Search for celebrities on Ancestry.com!JOHN R. COSTANZO
Services will be Friday, October 10, 2003 for John R. Costanzo who passed away from a lengthy illness with cancer on October 5, 2003. John was born on October 26, 1942 in New Rochelle, New York. John’s 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. Following high school, he attended Cabrillo Junior College 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, John operated a restaurant in Aptos for several years, and then decided to change his career to 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. John was a member of the California National Guard and the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity. He was an avid sportsman who loved the outdoors, barbeque for friends and family, and just being around people. His sense of humor always brought laughs and he was always ready with a practical joke. John touched many lives with his kindness and generosity and he will be deeply missed by his many friends and loving family. John was preceded in death by his mother Rose in 1996 and father Carmine in 2002. He is survived by his loving wife Laurie, daughters Nicole, Kristina, Brittany, and son John Rocco Junior of Aptos. He is also survived by his sisters Susan, Josephine, and Dorothy, and brothers Victor, Robert, Donald and Anthony. The funeral procession will leave Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel 1050 Cayuga St. Santa Cruz, Ca. Friday October 10 at 10:30 a.m. for Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 515 Frederick St., Santa Cruz where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated beginning at 11:00 a.m. An evening vigil service will be held at Pacific Gardens Chapel Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. Viewing hours will be at Pacific Gardens Chapel Wednesday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Thursday from 3:00 p.m. until service time. John’s family invites all of relatives and dear friends to a reception immediately following in the church hall. Remembrances may be made to your favorite charity.
October 8, 2003
GERTRUDE E. CARNEGGIE
Gertrude E. Carneggie passed away on September 19, 2003 at the Barton Memorial Hospital Skilled Nursing Facility in South Lake Tahoe, CA.; she was 94. Gertrude Elizabeth Huggler was born October 18, 1908, in Ridgeway, Pennsylvania. She spent her childhood years in and graduated from Eureka High School in Eureka, CA. She marriage Merle M. Carneggie in February, 1938, and they lived in San Jose, Lodi, and Los Molinos before returning to Humboldt County in 1955, where she and her husband operated Pete’s Grocery in Pepperwood, CA. Following the 1964 flood, which destroyed Pepperwood, she moved to Los Gatos and worked as a house parent for 15 years at the Ming Quong Children’s Home before retiring and moving to Santa Cruz in 1987. Gertrude moved to South Lake Tahoe in December, 2002 to live with her son. Gertrude was preceded in death by her husband of 21 years in December, 1959, and her son Joel R. Carneggie in March, 1994.
Gertrude was devoted to her family, her friends, and her church. She greatly enjoyed her active involvement and volunteer work with the Foster Grandparent Program in San Jose, and the Santa Cruz Bible Church. Gertrude was an adventurous woman who was enthusiastic about her travels to Europe, the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, and Alaska. She prized her 94 years of independence.
Gertrude will be greatly missed by her daughter, Lynn Noell of Palm Springs, her son and daughter-in-law, Dave Carneggie and Bonnie Driscoll of South Lake Tahoe, her son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Sharron Carneggie of Santa Rosa, her daughter-in-law, De Carneggie of Danville, her brother, Harold Huggler of Loleta, CA., and her sister, Mildred White of Walnut Creek, CA. She will also be missed by her 7 grandchildren, 6 step- grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held on November 1, 2003 at 11 a.m., at the Santa Cruz Bible Church in Santa Cruz, with Interment planned for a later date at Ocean View Cemetery in Eureka, CA. Memorial contributions may be made in lieu of flowers to the Santa Cruz Bible Church at 440 Frederick St., Santa Cruz, CA, 95062. Arrangements were by Family Options Funeral & Tribute Services of South Lake Tahoe.
October 8, 2003
Antonia ‘Lena’ Mambretti
Services will be today for Antonia "Lena" Mambretti, who died Monday at a local convalescent hospital. She was 91.
She was born in Pennsylvania and 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 1940s, where they lived many years before retiring in Santa Cruz.
Mrs. Mambretti 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, France; 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. today at Holy Cross Church 126 High St., Santa Cruz. A viewing will be 1:30 p.m. to service time today at the church.
Arrangements are by Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel, 1050 Cayuga St., Santa Cruz. Burial will be in Santa Cruz Memorial Park, Santa Cruz.
Contributions may be made to Heartland Hospice, 2511 Garden Road B200, Monterey, CA 93940.
October 9, 2003
William ‘Bill’ Hobbs
Services will be Friday for William "Bill" Hobbs, who died Tuesday in Watsonville. He was 89.
Mr. Hobbs was born in Mercer, Wis., and had lived in the Watsonville area for 40 years. He was a commercial fisherman, who fished from his boat, the Sea Lion, for 32 years.
He is survived by daughters Kathy Fish of Kempnert, Texas, and Kim Schott of Salinas; one grandchild and three great-grandchildren.
Services will be 10 a.m. Friday at Davis Memorial Chapel, 609 Main St., Watsonville. Burial will be at Pajaro Valley Memorial Park.
October 9, 2003
Silvio F. Rifesi
Services will be 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 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 9, 2003
David Bartlett
Services will be private for David Bartlett, who died Monday at his Santa Cruz home after a lengthy illness. He was 82.
Mr. Bartlett was born in Santa Cruz, the fourth generation to live in the city. His great-grandfather William Chauncy Bartlett arrived in Santa Cruz in the 1850s, and purchased Isbel Grove Ranch, originally a Spanish land grant. The ranch is now Carbonero Estates.
He graduated from Santa Cruz High School in 1938, and served on PT boats in the Pacific during World War II. He worked for Pacific Telephone Co., for more than 40 years, retiring in 1983.
He enjoyed traveling and spending time with his family.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Jeanette Bartlett of Santa Cruz; daughters Randine Gilbert and Terry Shaw of Red Bluff and Gerry Bartlett of Santa Cruz; brother Gerald Bartlett of Santa Cruz; sisters Lucille Vinyard of Trinidad, Jean Patton of Red Bluff, Ellicott Million of Santa Barbara and Ursula Brown of Prescott, Ariz.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Santa Cruz Memorial Park is in charge of the arrangements.
Contributions are preferred to the Leukemia Society.
October 9, 2003
Manuel W. ‘Manny’ Rapoza
Services are pending for Manuel W. "Manny" Rapoza, who died Saturday from injuries suffered in an automobile accident. He was 86.
He was born in Watsonville and lived in the city his entire life. He was a real estate agent in the city and surrounding counties for more than 40 years, working first with Lester and Roach, and then Burnett and Associates.
He retired to a life of boating and traveling in a recreational vehicle, with his first wife, Esther, and then his second wife, Georgia. He also enjoyed cooking, storytelling and barbecuing with family and friends.
He is survived by wife Georgia Rapoza of Watsonville; sister Mary Goodwin of Freedom; daughter Paula Sugidono of Watsonville; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Friends may visit 5-9 p.m. Friday at Mehl’s Colonial Chapel, 222 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville. Burial at Pajaro Valley Memorial Park will be private. Plans for a memorial service will be announced in the next few weeks.
October 9, 2003
Hazel Frances Hansen
No services will be held for Hazel Frances Hansen, who died Tuesday at her Watsonville home. She was 84.
Mrs. Hansen was born in Fresno, and had lived in Watsonville for 32 years. She worked as an office manager for the Palo Alto Unified School District for 35 years.
She is survived by son Rocky Hansen of Watsonville; one grandchild and one great-grandchild.
Her husband of 56 years, J. Herbert Hansen, died in 1998.
Her ashes will be placed at Alta Mesa Cemetery in Palo Alto. Davis Memorial Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
October 9, 2003
Lydia J. Chavarria
Services will be Saturday for Lydia Jean Chavarria, who died Tuesday at Watsonville Community Hospital of lung cancer, She was 50.
She was born in Jackson, Mich., and moved to California as a child. She had lived in Watsonville for 20 years.
She was a homemaker and assistant manager of Portola Heights. She enjoyed fishing, socializing, shopping, cooking, gardening and taking care of children.
She is survived by her husband of 16 years, Raymond Chavarria; sons Johnathan Stewart and Jesse Smith; daughters Charlene Smith, Marcie LaFrentz and Denise LaFrentz; mother Jean Mesa; and six brothers.
Her life will be celebrated 2 p.m. Saturday at the Portola Heights clubhouse, 1007 Freedom Blvd.
Contributions are preferred to the American Cancer Society, Dominican Hospital Education Building, 1555 Soquel Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95065.
Mehl’s Colonial Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
October 10, 2003
Michael J. Burns
Services will be Monday for retired Capt. Michael Joseph "Mike" Burns, who died Oct. 1 at his Santa Cruz home. He was 90.
He was born on a homestead outside Sherwood, N.D., and grew up working on his father’s farm. He was an amateur boxer in his youth, and won a Golden Gloves tournament.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1939, and completed flight training at Pensacola, Fla. After serving as a pilot in the European Theater during World War II, he remained in the service until retiring in 1965.
His favorite tour of duty was as operations and training officer in a squadron operating what was at the time the world’s largest aircraft. After retiring he briefly returned to North Dakota, then moved to Santa Cruz, where he purchased the home he would live in for the next 36 years. He used his skill as a woodworker to restore his home. He also enjoyed working the land around his home.
He was a devout Catholic, and was active in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Capitola. Friends say he was a raconteur and poet, who possessed an incredible Irish wit.
He is survived by nieces Dr. Mary Jo VanWinter of Austin, Minn., Nanci Henderson of Kansas City, Mo., and Mary Burns Stevens of El Paso, Texas; and nephew Michael Trutna of Durham, N.C.
Sisters Eileen Burns Trutna and Maye Burns, and brother Patrick Burns died before him.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph’s. Burial will be at the family plot in Minot, N.D.
Contributions are preferred to St. Joseph’s Catholic Community, 435 Monterey Ave., Capitola, CA 95010.
Santa Cruz Memorial Park and Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
October 10, 2003
