Search for celebrities on Ancestry.com!Renan R. Arredondo
Services will be Saturday for Renan Renee Arredondo, who died Monday after a long battle with ITP, an auto immune disease affecting blood platelets. He was 34.
He was born in Fresno, and lived in Capitola for about nine years before moving back to his hometown in 1999.
After graduating from McLane High School in Fresno, he enlisted the U.S. Marine Corps. Later he studied computer science at ITT in Santa Clara.
Two months shy of graduation, his illness forced him to give up his education and dreams of a technical career, but he helped his wife become a registered nurse by keeping house and taking care of the couple’s children.
He enjoyed the outdoors, and camped and hiked with his family and members of his church. He also enjoyed traveling to new places during annual vacations, most recently visiting the Grand Canyon and Nevada. He also liked cooking, baking and playing games with his children.
He coached sports, taught Awana to fourth-grade boys and was an active member at First Baptist Church of Santa Cruz, First Baptist Church of Fresno and Peoples Church of Fresno.
He is survived by his wife, Kathy Kensinger Arredondo of Fresno; children Tianna, Camielle and Renan Renee Arredondo Jr., all of Fresno; parents Martha Arredondo and Rufus McGough of Fresno; brother Dax Arredondo of Santa Cruz; grandmothers Margaret Gutierrez of Fresno and Betty Lett of Fresno; five uncles; three aunts; and numerous cousins.
Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Stephens & Bean Chapel, followed by a celebration of his life at Peoples Church. Friends may visit 2-7 p.m. Friday at Stephens & Bean Chapel, 202 N. Teilman Ave., Fresno.
Contributions are preferred to Peoples Church, 7172 N. Cedar, Fresno, CA 93720.
December 4, 2003
Helen Frank
Services were held for Helen Frank, who died Saturday in Santa Barbara. She was 95.
Mrs. Frank was born in Seattle, and lived in Live Oak for 30 years.
She grew up in Los Angeles, and graduated from Belmont High School. She attended Los Angeles City College for two years.
While living in Live Oak, Mrs. Frank was active in various Jewish community organizations, PTA and Cub Scouts. She also transcribed Braille.
Mrs. Frank left the Santa Cruz area in the mid-1970s, and lived in Truckee with her husband for about 10 years. Ed Frank, her husband of 46 years, died in 1986, and she moved to a retirement community in Santa Barbara.
She enjoyed reading, playing bridge, painting water colors, creating ceramics and collecting antiques.
She is survived by sons Daniel Frank of Santa Barbara, Harry Frank of Ann Arbor, Mich., and Red River, N.M., and Neil Frank of Redondo Beach; sister Lily Rosenthal of Los Angeles; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
She was buried Tuesday at Sholom Memorial Park in Sylmar.
December 4, 2003
Roy L. Flager
Services will be Saturday for Roy L. Flager, who died Saturday at his Santa Cruz home. He was 90.
He was born in Jennings, Okla., and he had lived in Santa Cruz for 24 years.
His love of aviation started before he entered the Air Force in the 1930s and continued during his 36-year career with Pan American Airways. He retired in 1976, but remained fascinated by technological advancements in aviation, his family said.
He was a devoted member of the United Methodist Church for 64 years, and served his church in many ways, including teaching Sunday school and doing a variety of maintenance jobs.
An avid golfer, Mr. Flager had been the president of the Golf Club and the Sons of Retirement. He also was a Mason and Shriner for the past 52 years.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Christine Flager of Santa Cruz; son Mark Flager of San Francisco; daughter Joyce Flager of Santa Cruz; and grandsons Forest and Morgan Flager.
A memorial celebration will be 2 p.m. Saturday at the First Methodist Church, 250 California St., Santa Cruz. Burial is private.
Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Contributions are preferred to Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 2425 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95817, or to Santa Cruz First United Methodist Church, 250 California St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060.
December 4, 2003
CAROL ANICKA MIHALIK
Our beloved daughter, sister, aunt, and friend will be remembered with a loving ceremony this Sunday, Dec. 7, 2003. This celebration will be held in the house in Highlands Park in Ben Lomond from 12-3 p.m. Please join us in a circle of love, where we will be sharing brief statements, a song or two and pictorial presentation. We will have a memory book with blank pages available and we hope you will write some of your memories down. If you have pictures of Anicka that we may not have, we would ask that you share a copy for our book.
Anicka touched the lives of so many people and, as her friend Aaron said through his tears, "Highlands won’t be big enough" for all for her friends. We hope you will join us on Sunday. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you read a book, hug a child, plant a flower.
Two of Anicka’s friends are co-coordinating this celebration and are providing what she always shared with them-Pepsi and snacks. If you have questions, please call Alisha and Ryan at 688-2226 or Kris Mihalik Abel at 307-421-5817.
The family would like to thank all her friends, especially Alisha, and all our friends especially Shelly Noce and Jenna Collier for their loving kindness.
December 3, 2003
PAULINE "POLLY" MARKS
Pauline "Polly" Marks, died from Alzheimer’s disease on Wednesday surrounded by her family and friends. She was 79.
Polly was born in Norwich, Connecticut on October 12, 1924. She graduated from the University of Connecticut where she studied microbiology. After graduation she worked as a microbiologist in the Connecticut state laboratories. In 1961 Polly and her family moved to Aptos. Polly did postgraduate work at the University of Santa Clara to get her teaching credential and her Masters degree. She taught math at Scotts Valley Middle School, although it was called Scotts Valley Junior High then. Polly taught there for thirty years until her retirement. She enjoyed many hobbies. She loved to work in the garden, design and create hooked rugs, play golf and play tennis. She started each day by jogging around her Aptos neighborhood. In 1985 she got a hole-in-one at DeLaveaga golf course. Polly was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma and the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
She is survived by her three daughters and their families: Pam Aguilar and husband Shev, Patti Loftus and husband Geoff, and Priscilla Marks. She adored her three granddaughters: Jennifer Aguilar, and Catherine and Erica Ann Loftus.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 6, at 2:00 at Oakwood Memorial Chapel, 3301 Paul Sweet Road, Santa Cruz. A celebration of her life will follow at her daughter’s home. Contributions are preferred to Cindy’s Celebrations, Post Office Box 1637, Capitola, CA 95010.
All arrangements entrusted to the care of Oakwood Memorial Chapel, 3301 Paul Sweet Rd., Santa Cruz, CA 95065.
December 4, 2003
JOAN ELIZABETH DOLL
A celebration for the life of Joan Elizabeth Doll will be on Saturday, December 13, in Santa Cruz. Joan passed away on November 26, 2003 at her Scotts Valley home. Born in Frederick, Colorado, she was 73 years old. Mrs. Doll was a resident of the Santa Cruz area for more than 33 years. She was employed with Wells Fargo Bank as a loan officer, spanning a career in banking of over 40 years. She was a long time member of the Santa Cruz Moose Lodge No. 545, and will be remembered by her family as a loving mother, grandmother and friend. She is survived by her three children, sons; Matt Doll and Jeff Doll both of Santa Cruz and her daughter, Lorna Sanchez Doll of Groveland, CA. Joan also leaves her dear friend and companion, Ed Wills of Palo Alto, her sister-in-law, Pat North of Santa Cruz, and her grandchildren, Marcus A. Sanchez and Cori Elizabeth Sanchez of Santa Cruz, and Justin Doll Buckley of Redding, California. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Doll of Santa Cruz in 1991, and two sisters; Eileen Cole and Therese Beltz.
Friends are invited to attend a celebration of life at the Santa Cruz Moose Lodge (2470 El Rancho Drive) in Santa Cruz on December 13, 2003 from 1 p.m until 5 p.m. A private family service and committal at sea will take place prior to the memorial celebration. Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel are handling the funeral arrangements.
The family requests that any remembrances be made tin Joan’s name to the Moose Lodge No. 545.
December 7, 2003
VIRGINIA HELEN FISHER
At her request, a private service will be held for Virginia Helen Fisher who passed away at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz on December 2, 2003, following a massive stroke which she suffered earlier that day. She was 80 years old.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she has been a resident of Santa Cruz for the past 29 years. She was a loving wife and homemaker; raising her son here. She was an avid reader and also volunteered at the Grey Bears Thrift Store. Virginia's son will forever remember her loving and caring personality and the affection they both shared for cats.
She is survived by her son Keith M. Fisher of Santa Cruz, and her brother, George Goehring of Baltimore, MD. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Charles W. Fisher on April 1, 2000. A private cremation is under the direction of Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel.
December 7, 2003
MARGUERITE KATHERINE MAIER GILMAN
Marguerite Katherine Maier Gilman passed away on Saturday, December 6, 2003. She was the beloved wife for 51 years of the late Dr. Philip K. Gilman Jr. Marguerite was born on January 29, 1908 in New York, the daughter of the late Alexander and Marie Fertig Maier.
Her qualities of caring and compassion led her to pursue a career in nursing. While she was head surgical nurse at Strong Memorial Hospital at the University of Rochester in New York, she met her future husband, Dr. Philip K. Gilman, Jr., a Stanford University alum. After her marriage, she traveled to the west coast to San Francisco and eventually settled in Watsonville. She and her husband experienced the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Dr. Gilman was stationed on the hospital ship USS Haven at the time. On her return to Watsonville, Marguerite soon became very involved in her community as a member of All Saints Episcopal Church and it Altar Guild, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Watsonville Community Hospital Auxiliary as a Pink Ladies Volunteer, American Field Service Exchange Program, Watsonville Woman’s Club, the Visiting Nurse Association, and a member of Chapter JB of the P.E.O. Sisterhood.
She enjoyed gardening, especially her roses and had a gift for making things grow. She was a loving wife and mother and was devoted to her family. Her thoughtfulness and generosity extended well beyond her immediate family. Marguerite was always reaching out to help others in need.
Marguerite is survived by her daughter Suzanne Skalski and her husband Clement of Avon, CT; son Dr. Philip K. Gilman, III and his wife Dr. Diana Gilman of Corralitos, and son Robert Cullen Gilman and his wife Denise of Sydney, Australia. Also surviving are seven grandchildren: Michael Skalski and his wife Suzanne of Morris Plains, NJ; Philip Skalski of New York City; Dr. Kathy Gilman of Hermosa Beach, CA; Kim Gilman Terzian and her husband Mike of Hermosa Beach, CA; John Gilman of San Francisco; Whitney Gilman of San Diego; Jacqueline Gilman of Sydney, Australia and a great granddaughter Sarah Skalski of NJ.
A memorial service celebrating her life will be held on Saturday, December 13 at 11 a.m. at All Saints Episcopal Church, 437 Rogers Ave., (off Martinelli St.) Watsonville.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be sent to All Saints Church or a charity of their choice. Arrangements are under the direction of Mehl’s Colonial Chapel.
December 10, 2003
AUGUST JOHN SUESS
August John Suess of Yamhill, OR; age 79 years; Born June 13, 1924; Died December 7, 2003 in McMinnville at WVMC; Services will be held Saturday, Dec. 13 at 2:00 PM at First Christian Church, Yamhill. Contributions to the American Heart Assn., C/O Macy & Son. Interment will be private at Willamette National Cemetery; Portland.
AUGUST JOHN SUESS, son of William August and Minnie Maria Burns Suess was born in Arland, WA. He and his family moved to California in 1936 and settled in an area called Skyland. He graduated from Skyland School and worked in the building trades until he joined the Marine Corps on February 18, 1943. He served in the South Pacific and participate in battles on Kwajalien Marshal Island, Saipan, Iwo Jima and the Walden Islands. He was honorably discharged on December 4, 1945. He marriage Dorothy Edith Williams on July 28, 1946 in Los Gatos, CA.
They lived in that area until 1967 when they bought a farm in Yamhill, OR. He continued to work in construction as a mechanic and an equipment operator until he retired in 1989. He was an active member of the Operating Engineers Local 701. He joined the Carlton American Legion Post 173 in 1980. The family said "he was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother and friend. Papa, as his grandchildren called him, enjoyed babysitting his great grandchildren, working in the yard, being a member of the American Legion Post and working with his hands."
He was a member of the First Christian Church in Yamhill, OR. He enjoyed vegetable gardening, automotives, and Legion activities.
He is survived by his wife Dorothy Edith Suess of Yamhill, OR; two sons, August John Suess Jr. of Anchorage, AK and William Edward Suess of Fairbanks, AK; three daughters Virginia Arlene Martin of Carlton, OR, Mary Anne Wise of McMinnville, OR, and Rosanna Louise Schmidt of Yamhill, OR; three sisters, Coral Singer, of Santa Cruz, CA, Joanne Harrison of Friant, CA and Lucille Rhodes of Capitola, CA; 14 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Evelyn Martin and Joyce Pickering.
Services under the direction of Macy & Sons; 135 NE Evans; McMinnville, OR, 97128.
December 11, 2003
