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Jose Cortez Solorio
Jose Cortez Solorio died Saturday, Feb. 14, 2004, in Sacramento, at age 85.
Born Dec. 19, 1919 in Electra Texas, Mr. Solorio had been a Yolo County resident for over 45 years. He worked in agriculture as a farm laborer, prior to moving to La Piedad, Michoacan, Mexico four years ago.
Mr. Solorio is survived by his wife Trinidad Solorio of La Piedad; daughters, Maria Venegas, Clara Ramirez, of Woodland and Elvira Heredia of Avenal; sons, Guillermo, Salvador, Juan, Jose, and Antonio Cortez, all of Woodland.
Twenty-eight grandchildren also survive him.
His father, Eduardo Vargas preceded him in death in 1995.
Arrangements are under the direction of Evergreen Funeral Services of Woodland.
Services: A mass of Christian burial is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. today, Feb. 19, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Woodland. Interment will at La Piedad, Michoacan, Mexico.
PHARES
Vyvien Jewel Phares
Vyvien Jewel Phares died peacefully in her Woodland home Friday, Oct. 18, 2002, at age 100.
Born Oct. 5, 1902, in Glendale, Ariz., Mrs. Phares was daughter of John and Alice Lehman. She had been a resident of Woodland since 1935 and marriage Dr. Paul Frederick Phares in 1936. She was a member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church and served as the organist, soloist and choir director from 1950 to 1974. She was also the organist and soloist for McNary's Chapel for 50 years, beginning in 1939. Her civic activities included being a member of the Woodland Organ club, Woodland Town and Country Club, Woodland Soroptimist Club and served as secretary to the board of the Woodland Community Chest. She worked for JCPenney Co. Inc. in Oakland and Woodland from 1935 to 1937. She was an accomplished artist, creating many paintings in oil and water colors, and winning numerous awards for works in ceramics and many other art pieces.
Mrs. Phares is survived by her daughter, Deirdre Eriksen and husband Hans Jordan of Sacramento; and granddaughters, Marni Eriksen of Sacramento and Mrs. Kristi Estes and husband Curtis of Los Angeles.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Paul Phares in 1966; and brother, Vernon Lehman of Lodi.
A funeral service is scheduled at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at St. Luke's Episcopal.
The family requests memorials be directed to American Cancer Society; or the American Heart Association.
McNary's Chapel of Woodland is assisting the family with arrangements.
SOLORZANO
Cecil Cruz Solorzano Sr.
Cecil Cruz Solorzano Sr. died in Woodland Saturday, March 1, 2003.
Born in Sacramento, Mr. Solorzano had been a Yolo County resident for 30 years. He served in the Navy during World War II. He was self taught musician. He was a long time volunteer for Woodland's Senior Center.
Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Betty Solorzano of Woodland; sons, Cecil Cruz Solorzano Jr., Jimmie Cruz Solorzano, Richard Cruz Solorzano; and daughter, Deborah Lynn Solorzano; 16 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his mother, Francisca Jimenez; brother, Val Solorzano; aunt Clara; and great grandson, Alexander Van Horn.
Arrangements are under the direction of McNary's Chapel of Woodland.
Services: Private burial is scheduled at Monument Hill Memorial Park, Woodland. No service are scheduled.
SOLORZANO
Elizabeth 'Betty' Rose Solorzano
Elizabeth "Betty" Rose Solorzano, 67, affectionately known as "The Hat Lady, " passed away Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2005 at her Woodland home, with her four children at her bedside throughout her illness. Born Feb. 16, 1937 to Joe and Emma (Gage) Hawkins in Sacramento, she attended McClatchy High School, and had been a resident of Woodland for the past 30 years. Mrs. Solorzano was an active member of the Woodland Senior Center, as a volunteer and entertainer, and devoted to her pets, Mutley, Osa and Bessie. She is survived by a daughter, Deborah Lynn Solorzano of Woodland; her sons, Cecil Cruz Solorzano Jr. of Valley Springs, Jim Cruz Solorzano of Shelton, Wash. and Richard Cruz Solorzano of Sacramento; 16 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Preceding her in death was her husband of 49 years, Cecil Cruz Solorzano Sr. Our Mama was as beautiful as a rose, Bless her Heart. A graveside service is scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 7 at Monument Hill Memorial Park, 35036 County Road 22, Woodland. The family requests memorial donations are to be made to the SPCA of Yolo County, in her memory. Arrangements are under the direction of Evergreen Funeral Service of Woodland.
SOM
Sar Som
Sar Som died at Woodland Healthcare Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2004 at age 92.
Ms. Som was born in Cambodia Dec. 10, 1911. She had been a Yolo County resident for 12 years. She was a high school graduate and worked as a chef.
Survivors include Ms. Som's son, Sabath Uy and his wife Seak Kheng of Woodland; her granddaughters, Rany Ky and her husband Alexander of Citrus Heights and Cindy Chah and her husband Leo of Los Angeles. She was preceded in death by her husband Penh Uy; her mother, Hout Soy and her father, Som.
Services: A funeral is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 11 at McNary's Chapel, 458 College St., Woodland. McNary's Chapel of Woodland is assisting the family with arrangements.
SONDEJ
Martin Joseph Sondej
Martin Joseph Sondej, a two-year resident of the Davis area, died April 23, 2004, at the Sierra-Greenfield Care Center. He was 87.
Born on Oct. 14, 1916, in Passaic, N.J., to parents Carolyn Kowal of Poland and Andrew Sondej of Austria, he lived most of his life on the East Coast. He graduated from Mount Carmel High School in 1936 where he met his first wife, Leona. He enlisted in the Army infantry in 1935 in Harrisburg, Pa., and was released at Fort McDowell in 1937.
After his release, he worked as an electroplater. In 1943, he re-enlisted in the Army as a construction equipment mechanic and demolition specialist in the Rhineland and Central Europe. He separated from the service in 1945 after being decorated with the World War II victory medal, American theater ribbon, and an European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign ribbon.
He resumed his life in Pennsylvania and Connecticut with a family of one son, Robert Martin Sondej, a current resident of Sherrard, Ill., and daughter, Cynthia Sondej Kerr, now a resident of Davis. He worked for the Electrolux Corp. in Old Greenwich as a foreman in metal finishing and retired in July 1979 after 41 years.
He divorced and re marriage in 1968 to Theresa Romaniello, who had three children: Barbara Brouilletteo of Arizona, Mary Lou Moker of Connecticut and the late Lennie Romaniello of Connecticut.
Sondej and his wife Tess enjoyed many days at the White Eagle Club in Connecticut, where he held many offices in the club and was honored as the 1975 Man of the Year. He enjoyed dancing, cards and the company of others.
In addition, he was a member of the Moose and the Veterans of Foreign Wars service organization in Connecticut. He was known for his calm demeanor, never requesting anything and always making the best of all situations, his family said. He loved dogs, music and children. While in California, he received many smiles from spending time with his granddaughters, Heather and Jenny Kerr of Davis.
He was preceded in death by his wives, Leona in 1981, and Tess in 2002. He was also preceded in death by his brothers, Frank, Joseph and Walter Honcz, and John Sondej, and sister, Mary Wydan.
He is survived by his brother, Henry Honcz of Connecticut. He will be remembered by his family, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews in California, Connecticut, Arizona and Illinois.
A funeral Mass will be held in his honor at St. James Catholic Church, 14th and B streets, on Thursday at 5:30 p.m., followed by a reception in the Memorial Center. All friends of the family are welcome. Burial will be private.
The family wishes to thank the Pastoral Care Program of St. James, Yolo Hospice the VA/Mather, Citizens Who Care, and the various caregivers at Sierra and in the community for their spiritual and physical care.
SONG
Sungdo Song
Sungdo Song died Oct. 28, 2001, at the age of 92.
She was born on Nov. 1, 1908, in Uiju, North Korea, near the Yalu River. She graduated from high school in Manchuria (now China) and attended a Christian theological seminary in North Korea in 1940, but the seminary was closed before she could graduate because of the increasingly oppressive colonial policy of the Japanese military government occupying Korea.
After marrying her husband, Jey Woong Chun, a Korean businessman, they moved to Shanghai, China, and lived there for 15 years. While in Shanghai, they participated in the Korean independence movement and made contributions, especially financially, to the Korean government-in-exile in Shanghai.
Prior to the end of World War II in 1945, she, her husband and family moved from China to North Korea first and then later escaped from the communist North Korea to South Korea through the 38th parallel. Later they went through the Korean War with much hardship.
After her husband died in Korea, she immigrated to the United States in 1968 and lived in Orange County, San Francisco and Davis. She had remained active and productive in serving the Korean immigrant churches in Los Angeles, especially in providing leadership in organizing nursery and Sunday school programs for children.
She lived a healthy, happy and full life as a Christian until her death of natural causes.
She is survived by three children, the Rev. Dr. Sang Wan Chun, a retired Presbyterian minister in New York, Grace Kim, a retired Davis High School teacher, and Kay Chun, a social worker in Los Angeles; and 16 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at the Davis Funeral Chapel, 116 D St. in Davis, on Friday at 10:30 a.m.
