Search for celebrities on Ancestry.com!Frances Sharlene Fisher Culver
Services will be Sunday for Frances Sharlene Fisher Culver, who died Thursday at her Felton home of cancer. She was 62.
She was born in Tomnolen, Miss., and had lived in Santa Cruz County for 30 years.
She worked in real estate for many years, first in San Diego and later owning Contempo Realty in Cupertino. She was named businesswoman of the year in 1975 in Santa Clara County. After retiring, she worked for many years as a bartender at the Boulder Club in Boulder Creek.
She enjoyed collecting brass items.
She is survived by sons Rich and Russell Culver of Santa Cruz and Ron Culver of San Ramon; brother Tommy Stokes of Mississippi; and two grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Sunday at Oakwood Memorial Crystal Chapel, 3301 Paul Sweet Road. A reception will follow at the Oakwood Community Hall.
Santa Cruz Memorial Park and Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Contributions are preferred to Hospice Caring Project, 6851 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003, or American Cancer Society, 1555 Soquel Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95065.
October 7, 2003
Antonia Mambretti
Services will be Thursday for Antonia "Lena" Mambretti who died Monday at a local convalescent hospital. She was 91.
Born in Pennsylvania, she grew up in Poggiolo, Parma, Italy. She later came to Santa Cruz where she met Charles Mambretti. After their marriage, she and Charles moved to San Francisco in the early 1940s and lived there many years before retiring in Santa Cruz.
She was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church. She was described as an excellent cook, and loved playing cards.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Annmarie and Milan Sreckovic of Nice, France; granddaughter Laura Sreckovic of Nice; and sister-in-law Rose Davighi of Santa Cruz.
Her husband died last year. Her brother, Louie Davighi, also died before her.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Holy Cross Church, 126 High St., Santa Cruz. Friends may call from 1:30 p.m. until the service Thursday at the church.
Arrangements are by Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel 1050 Cayuga St., Santa Cruz. Entombment will be in Santa Cruz Memorial Park, Santa Cruz.
Contributions may be made to Heartland Hospice, 2511 Garden Road B200, Monterey, CA 93940.
October 8, 2003
Beverley J. Souza
Services will be Friday for Beverley June Souza, who died of cancer Saturday at her Madera home. She was 66.
She was born and raised in Soledad, and lived in Watsonville most of her adult life.
She was a homemaker, and went to work after her children started school. She worked for Rod McLellan Co. in Watsonville, and more recently at Gravelle’s Boat Yard in Moss Landing.
Her primary interest was her family.
She is survived by her husband of 22 years, Ron Souza; daughter Glynda Orr of Madera; sons Richard Pike of Las Vegas, Ronald Pike of Auberry, Raymond Pike of Watsonville and Russel Pike of Madera; sisters Dawn French of Prunedale and Penni Crumpton of Redding; and 17 grandchildren.
A memorial will be 1 p.m. Friday at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 255 Holm Road, Watsonville.
Contributions are preferred to a hospice organization.
October 8, 2003
John R. Costanzo
Services will be Friday for John R. Costanzo of Aptos, who died Sunday after a long battle with cancer. He was 61.
Mr. Costanzo was born in New Rochelle, N.Y. His family moved to Capitola in 1949 where he attended Capitola Elementary School. He graduated from Santa Cruz High School in 1960 and lettered in football.
After high school, he attended Cabrillo Junior College and then transferred to Chico State College, where he earned a degree in business administration in 1967. At Chico he was on the wrestling team and ranked among the top wrestlers in California in his weight division.
After graduation, Mr. Costanzo operated a restaurant in Aptos for several years, and then decided go into real estate and construction. After a decade of custom-home construction, he moved into commercial design and development with a range of projects, from office buildings to retirement communities in California and Oregon. He also continued with custom home development in Central California.
Mr. Costanzo was a member of the state National Guard and Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity. He was an avid sportsman who loved the outdoors, barbecuing for friends and family and being around people. His sense of humor brought laughs, and he always was ready with a practical joke.
He is survived by wife Laurie Costanzo of Aptos; daughters Nicole, Kristina and Brittany Costanzo of Aptos; son John Rocco Costanzo Jr. of Aptos; sisters Susan Bellangero, Josephine Rush and Dorothy Escobar of Santa Cruz; and brothers Victor Costanzo of Folsom, Robert and Anthony Costanzo of Santa Cruz, and Donald Costanzo of San Jose.
His mother, Rose Costanzo, died in 1996. His father, Carmine Costanzo, died in 2002.
The funeral procession will leave at 10:30 a.m. Friday from Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel, 1050 Cayuga St., Santa Cruz, for Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 515 Frederick St., Santa Cruz. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m.
A vigil service will be 7 p.m. Thursday at Pacific Gardens Chapel. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday from 3 p.m. until the service at Pacific Gardens Chapel. A reception will follow in the church hall.
Contributions are preferred to a favorite charity.
October 8, 2003
Minnie G. Shaver
Services will be Friday for Minnie Genevieve Shaver, who died Sunday in Santa Cruz. She was 84.
She was born in Lancaster and lived in Scotts Valley for 27 years.
She was active with California Grey Bears in Santa Cruz for more than 20 years, and enjoyed going to Reno with her travel club several times a year. She was an avid walker and was often seen walking Scotts Valley neighborhoods. She also raised many types of plants and flowers in her garden.
She is survived by son Ron Shaver of Soquel; grandchildren Michael Shaver of Santa Cruz, Todd Shaver of Boulder Creek, and Jeffrey Shaver of Santa Cruz; and great-grandchildren Jeffrey and Kelsey Shaver of Santa Cruz.
Her husband of 50 years, Clarence Shaver, died in 1992. Son Glen Shaver also died before her.
Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Friday at Santa Cruz Memorial Park Mission Chapel, 1927 Ocean St.
Contributions are preferred to California Grey Bears, Santa Cruz chapter, 2710 Chanticleer Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95062.
October 8, 2003
Paul Riojas
Services will be Friday for Paul Riojas, who died Monday at his Watsonville home after a long illness. He was 66.
He was born in Texas and lived in Watsonville for 53 years.
He was a forklift driver for Richard Shaw Frozen Foods, now Bird’s Eye, for about 20 years. He Teamsters Union member.
He is survived by wife Esperanza Riojas of Watsonville; son Lorenzo Riojas of Watsonville; daughters Yolanda Allaro and Alicia Juarez of Watsonville and Nina Sanchez of Hollister; brother Porfirio Riojas of Texas; 14 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be 2 p.m. Friday at Valley Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Valley Public Cemetery. A rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Thursday at Valley Catholic Church.
Friends may call 2-5 p.m. Thursday at Mehl’s Colonial Chapel, 222 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville.
October 8, 2003
Silvio F. Rifesi
Services will Monday for Silvio F. Rifesi, who died Sept. 30 at Dominican Hospital. He was 96.
He was born in San Francisco, one of 10 children of Luigi and Josephine Rifesi. He moved to Oakland as a small child and grew up there. In his early years he worked as a cab driver and at the Alameda Naval Air Station. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
After military service, he moved to Clearlake, where he owned and operated a vacation resort. In Clearlake, he met and marriage his third wife. The couple moved to Santa Cruz, where he lived and raised his family.
Mr. Rifesi was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church. He enjoyed walking, reading and fishing in his spare time.
He is survived by his wife, Elisabeth, of Scotts Valley; son Louis Rifesi of Scotts Valley; daughter Josephine Rifesi of Santa Cruz; former wife Rita Rifesi of Santa Cruz; and two grandchildren.
His first and second wives, Bernice Anderson and Teresa Rifesi, died before him.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at noon Monday at Holy Cross Catholic Church 126 High St, Santa Cruz.
Arrangements are under the direction of Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel, 1050 Cayuga St., Santa Cruz.
Private Burial was in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, San Pablo.
October 8, 2003
ANTONIA "LENA" MAMBRETTI
Services will be Thursday for Antonia "Lena" Mambretti who passed away October 6, 2003 at a local convalescent hospital. She was 91.
She was born March 1, 1912 in Pennsylvania the daughter of Antonio and Veronica Davighi. She grew up in Poggiolo, Parma, Italy. She later came to Santa Cruz where she met her future husband, Charles Mambretti. After her marriage to Charles the couple moved to San Francisco in the early 1940’s where they lived many years before retiring back to Santa Cruz.
Lena was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church. She was described as an excellent cook and loved playing cards.
She is survived by her daughter and son in law, Anna Maria and Milan Sreckovic of Nice, France; granddaughter, Laura Sreckovic of Nice, France; sister in law, Rose Davighi of Santa Cruz. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Mambretti last year, and her brother, Louie Davighi.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Holy Cross Church 126 High St., Santa Cruz, Ca. Thursday October 9 at 2:00 p.m. A viewing will be at the church Thursday from 1 p.m. to service time. Arrangements are under the direction of Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel 1050 Cayuga St. Santa Cruz, Ca. Entombment will be in Santa Cruz Memorial Park, Santa Cruz, Ca.
Contributions may be made to Heartland Hospice 2511 Garden Rd. B200, Monterey, Ca. 93940.
October 8, 2003
