Search for celebrities on Ancestry.com!Ellen ‘Nell’ Hammer
A celebration of life will be Friday for Ellen "Nell" Hammer, who died Thursday at a Capitola convalescent hospital. She was 87.
Mrs. Hammer was born in London and spent her youth in Australia. She moved to Canada in 1954.
After living a year in Victoria, British Columbia, she moved to Southern California and worked as head housekeeper at Wesley Palms in San Diego. She moved to Santa Cruz in 1970, where she met John Hammer. The couple marriage in 1976. She often traveled to Colorado to visit her husband’s family.
Mrs. Hammer was known for her sense of humor and the jokes she was always ready to share. She enjoyed travel, and often returned to Australia to see family and friends. She was a Christian, and shared her faith with whoever she met, a family friend said.
She is survived by many cousins in Australia and a cousin in England, as well as longtime friends in British Columbia, Australia and Santa Cruz.
Her husband, John, died before her.
Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Oakwood Memorial Park, on Paul Sweet Road.
A celebration of her life will be at 2 p.m. Friday at East Cliff Village Apartments, on the corner of Tremont and 17th avenues, in Santa Cruz. For information call 462-2400.
Arrangements are by Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel.
September 29, 2002
Mildred Fitch
Services will be Wednesday for Mildred Fitch, who died Thursday at Riverview Manor Nursing Home in Three Rivers, Mich. She was 93.
She was born in Mendon, Mich., where she grew up and attended school. She later attended Western Teacher’s College and returned to Mendon to teach elementary school.
Mrs. Fitch marriage Howard Fitch in 1931 in LaGrange, Ind., and in 1938, they moved to Santa Cruz, where they lived for 50 years until moving to Kalamazoo, Mich., in 1988.
Through the years in California, she made many friends and actively volunteered for many causes and organizations including the Grey Bears. She also performed many tasks at the local county hospital during World War II.
Mrs. Fitch had a soft spot for animals and enjoyed gardening, her family said.
Her husband, Howard, died in 1990.
She is survived by a sister-in-law, Elsie Goertler of Flint, Mich.; a niece; two great-nieces and a great-nephew.
Services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Mendon cemetery.
Contributions are preferred to the American Cancer Society or the Kalamazoo Humane Society. Arrangements are being handled by Rupert, Durham, Marshall and Gren Funeral Home, Vicksburg Chapel, Michigan.
April 1, 2003
Goldie C. Pinkerton
Services will be Thursday for Goldie C. Pinkerton, who died Friday at Watsonville Community Hospital. She was 88.
Mrs. Pinkerton, who recently had moved to Watsonville, was born in Wright County, Mo., and was raised in a sod house on the prairie in western Nebraska.
She had lived in San Juan Bautista for 25 years.
She was a member of the Watsonville Seventh-Day Adventist Church. She enjoyed cooking and baking.
She is survived by her husband of 68 years, John R. Pinkerton Sr.; sons John Pinkerton Jr. of Carter Lake, Iowa, Harvey Pinkerton of Yerington, Nev., Louis Pinkerton of Mesa, Ariz., and Albert Pinkerton of Tucson, Ariz.; daughter Goldie Prinz of Aptos; brother Harvey Ussery of Lower Lake; 21 grandchildren; 50 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Watsonville Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 700 S. Green Valley Road. Burial will follow at Valley Public Cemetery.
Mehl’s Colonial Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
April 1, 2003
Sarah Maul Dennis
No services are planned for Sarah Maul Dennis, who died Wednesday in Murrieta. She was 86.
Mrs. Dennis was born in Amherst, Neb.; and had lived in Santa Cruz County for 55 years.
She went to Amherst High School. She lived in Santa Cruz, Aptos and Scotts Valley, where her husband owned a gas station for 30 years.
She worked in the Santa Cruz County Assessor’s Office for eight years, and retired in 1978.
She was a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose No. 545 and Messiah Lutheran Church.
She is survived by son Lance Dennis of Murrieta; sister Dana M. Hinrichs of Novato; two grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Her husband of 63 years, Frank L. Dennis, died in 2000. Her son, Frank L. Dennis Jr., died in 1977.
Valley Funeral Home in Murrieta is in charge of the arrangements.
Contributions are preferred to Hospice of the Valleys, 28127 Bradley Road, Sun City, CA 92586.
April 1, 2003
Louis R. Garvey
Services will be today for Louis Raymond Garvey, who died Thursday at a Santa Cruz convalescent home. He was 81.
Mr. Garvey, a native of New York, lived in Santa Cruz County for the past 29 years.
Mr. Garvey owned and operated Reddi Appliances in Aptos for many years before his retirement, when he turned the business over to his son-in-law.
Mr. Garvey, was a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard and served during World War II.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Alice Garvey of Aptos; sons Michael and Paul of Aptos; daughters Mary Ann Martinez of San Antonio, Texas, Rita Gorham of Watsonville and Loretta Barnard of San Jose; brother William Garvey of New Jersey; sisters Marie Davis of Anaheim and Gertrude Airo of Florida; and nine grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Frank Garvey.
A memorial Mass will be 11 a.m. today at the Resurrection Catholic Church, 7600 Soquel Drive in Aptos.
Arrangements are by Mehl’s Colonial Chapel.
April 2, 2003
Maria Rauscher
Services will be Thursday for Maria Rauscher, who died Tuesday in Santa Cruz. She was 92.
A native of Cyprus, Mrs. Rauscher had spent the last 28 years living in Santa Cruz. She was a member of Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church. She loved cooking Greek food and gardening.
Mrs. Rauscher is survived by her daughter, Stella Vickerman of Freedom; her sons, Herman and Andrew Rauscher of Cyprus; her grandson, Joe Chalhoub of Aptos; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren in both the United States and Cyprus.
Her husband, Ernst Rauscher, died in 1983.
Services will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Santa Cruz Memorial Park, Mission Chapel, 1927 Ocean St., Santa Cruz. Arrangements are being handled by the Santa Cruz Memorial Park and Funeral Home.
April 2, 2003
Jewel ‘Red’ Alton White
Services will be held Friday for Jewel "Red" Alton White, who died Sunday in Santa Cruz. He was 83.
Mr. White was born in Oklahoma but lived most of his life in California. He was a welder by trade, repairing farming machinery in the fields. He enjoyed fishing, camping and gardening.
He is survived by his wife, Vera White in Santa Cruz; his daughter, Donna Charcho in Felton; his son, Ron White in Felton; seven grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren, 1 brother; a sister-in-law; and four sisters.
Services will be 2 p.m. Friday at Santa Cruz Memorial Park and Funeral Home, Mission Chapel, 1927 Ocean St., Santa Cruz.
April 2, 2003
Theresa M. Crosetti
Services will be Friday for Theresa M. Crosetti, who died Friday in Valley Convalescent Hospital. She was 89.
A native and lifelong resident of Watsonville, she graduated from Moreland Notre Dame High School in Watsonville and attended business school in Santa Cruz.
She worked for a time as a receptionist in the office of Dr. Ehler Eiskamp, a Watsonville physician, who lived to be 102.
In 1935 she marriage J.J. Crosetti Sr., and began her lifelong career as a devoted wife and mother. Crosetti was a well-known businessman in Watsonville, starting out as a grower, packer and shipper of fresh fruit and vegetables before branching out and getting into the frozen produce business.
She supported many organizations by hosting their fund-raisers and events at her home. Some of these include the American Cancer Society, the American Red Cross, Watsonville Band and the Sons of Italy.
She was a member of Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church, the Legion of Mary and the Young Ladies Institute. She was a member of the Watsonville Woman’s Club and in her younger years enjoyed dancing, golf and bowling. A lifetime Yankees fan, she enjoyed watching baseball and reading Agatha Christie mysteries.
She is survived by a son, J.J. Crosetti Jr. of Watsonville; a daughter, Jeanette Crosetti of Watsonville; a sister, Marina Muzzio of Watsonville; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Her husband, J.J. Crosetti Sr., died in 1988.
Services will be 10 a.m. Friday at Our Lady Help of Christians Church. She will be buried at Valley Catholic Cemetery.
Friends may call at Mehl’s Colonial Chapel from 2 to 5 p.m. Thursday.
Contributions are preferred to Alzheimer’s Association, 1777-A Capitola Road, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 or Hospice Caring Project of Santa Cruz County, PO Box 670, Aptos, CA 95001.
April 2, 2003
