Carl "Buddy" Picha
Carl "Buddy" Picha, a former heavy machine operator for Granite Rock, died Feb. 22. He was 73.
Mr. Picha served in the U.S. Navy during WWII and lived most of his life in Hollister. He is survived by his wife, Jan Picha, whom he married in 1963.
Mr. Picha also is survived by his children Bob Picha of Hollister, Buzzy Picha of Hollister, Janet Jones of Stockton, seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Private cremation is through Black Cooper Sander Funeral Home and Gavilan Hills Crematory. A memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, March 3, 2001 at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Tres Pinos.
Donations are preferred to Hazel Hawkins Hospitals Foundation.
Donald Carl Seaholm
Donald Seaholm, as former NASCAR driver in the 1950’s, died February 26, 2001. He was 71.
Mr. Seaholm was born March 30, 1929 in Seattle, Wash., and came to San Benito in 1979. He was in the Merchant Marines during WWII. In the 1950’s he was a NASCAR race driver and upon retirement worked on engines all his life. He was an employee of A.M.S. Engines in Salinas and a former employee of Forburg Co. of Oakland, and various well-known auto part companies in Monterey County and San Benito County.
Mr. Seaholm is survived by his son, Mark Nicodemus of Hollister, daughter Alice Nicodemus of Moreno Valley, son Steven Nicodemus of Romania, son David Wilson of Portland, son John Wilson of Stanislaus County, and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Martha Catherine Seaholm who died in 1987.
A private cremation has been arranged through Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Crematory. Friends and invited to attend the graveside service on Monday, March 5, 2001 at 3 p.m. at the IOOF Cemetery, Hollister.
Donations may be made to the Heart Fund c/o Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Funeral Home.
Brenna L. Whitehead
Brenna Whitehead, a Hollister resident, died February 20. She was 53.
Mrs. Whitehead was born in California and raised by her grandparents in Grand Prairie, Texas. She has lived in Hollister for the last 10 years after moving here from San Martin.
Mrs. Whitehead is survived by her husband Terry Hubbard of Hollister, son, Trevor Gonzalez of San Jose, son Sean Markham of Livermore, daughter Tammy Bails of Arizona, brother Greg Ferrare of Colorado.
A memorial service will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Black Cooper Sander Funeral Home. Ed Sweeney will officiate. Cremation will be followed by private inurnment.
Catarino H. Arriaga
Catarino Arriaga, a carpenter for Tri Valley Foods, died February 7. He was 74.
Mr. Arriaga was born in Chihuahua, Mexico, received his education at the Mexican schools and came to San Benito in 1962. He was a member of Sacred Heart Parish and Local 890 United Brotherhood of Teamsters. Mr. Arriaga loved being a carpenter and building things. He also loved family gatherings.
Mr. Arriaga is survived by his wife Amelia M. Arriaga of Hollister, daughter Martha Gonzalez of Hollister, son Jose Arriaga of Santa Maria, daughter Beatrice Arriaga of Hollister, daughter Rose of Hollister, 12 grandchildren, four great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Recitation of the rosary was held Sunday at Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Funeral Hole. Interment was at San Juan District Cemetery.
Donations may be made to the Kidney Foundation c/o the mortuary chapel.
Ernest N. Casados
Ernest Casados, a veteran of WWII, died February 11. He was 88.
Mr. Casados was born in Santa Fe, N.M., came to California in 1941, then moved to San Benito in 1979. He was a member of Sacred Heart Church, St. Benedict Church, Boy Scouts of America, Catholic Committee on Scouting and was a Sacred Heart School volunteer. Mr. Casados became an Eagle Scout in 1932 and received the Harmon Scholarship award given to outstanding Scouts of America. He spent 15 years as a Eucharistic Minister with Sacred Heart Church and was a volunteer scout leader until after World War II in which he later became a Scout Executive for 30 years. During the war he was an aircraft draftsman in San Diego.
Mr. Casados is survived by his wife Lily H. Casados of Hollister, daughter Gloria Popowski of Hollister, son Don Casados of Cypress, sister Emily Lucero of Santa Fe, N.M., three grandchildren, five great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Friends visited Tuesday afternoon at Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Funeral Home and attended a vigil service, Tuesday 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home. A funeral Mass will be Saturday in Albuquerque, N.M., followed by burial at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Albuquerque. A memorial Mass will be held at a later date in Hollister.
Contributions are preferred to St. Vincent DePaul, Sacred Heart School or Fishes & Loaves.
Joan Miller Densmore
Joan Densmore, a transportation supervisor with the Hollister School District, died February 8. She was 52.
Mrs. Densmore was a member of The Anglican Episcopal Church and was an active member of the Girl Scouts of America. She had worked for the Hollister School District for over 20 years and for the last 15 years she had been the transportation supervisor.
Mrs. Densmore is survived by her husband Robert Densmore of San Juan Bautista, daughter Nikki Densmore of San Juan Bautista, daughter Lesley Densmore of San Juan Bautista, daughter Diana Salazar of Southern California, father Benjamin (Jim) Miller of Redwood City, brother Craig Miller of San Francisco Bay Area, brother Bruce Miller of San Francisco Bay Area.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 2066 Cienega Road, Hollister. Private inurnment, graveside services, arrangements and cremation are under the direction of Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Funeral Home.
Contributions are preferred to the Joan Densmore Surviving Children’s Scholarship Fund at San Benito Bank, Account number 641000115981 or in care of the funeral home.
Steffi DeWitt
Steffi DeWitt, a Hollister resident, died February 10. She was 83.
Mrs. DeWitt was born in Germany and came to San Benito in the 1930s and was the head cook for Almaden Vineyards for many years. She was a member of Sacred Heart Church.
Mrs. DeWitt is survived by her husband Lloyd DeWitt of Hollister, son Robert Lee DeWitt of Hollister, son Joseph M. DeWitt of Hollister, seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Services were February 14 with burial at the IOOF Cemetery.
Donations are preferred to a charity of choice in memory of Mrs. DeWitt.
Robert E. "Bob" Deyarmin
Robert Deyarmin, a U.S. veteran, died February 6. He was 69.
Mr. Deyarmin was born and raised in San Benito and attended San Benito High School and San Benito Jr. College in the class of 1949. He was a veteran of the Korean conflict with the U.S. Air Force. Mr. Deyarmin was a member of Sacred Heart Church, Hollister Post 9242 V.F.W. and Hollister Lodge No. 1436 B.P.O.E. Mr. Deyarmin was an avid 49er and San Francisco Giants fan, he loved all sports and he enjoyed going to Reno.
Upon discharge from the Air Force, he worked for Bank Of America in Gilroy, and then he went to work for the Post Office in Hollister, from which he retired. While at the Post Office he served as a Hollister City Clerk for eight years. Upon total retirement from the Post Office he worked for both Union 76 Stations in Hollister to keep busy.
Mr. Deyarmin is survived by his wife, Will Mae Deyarmin of Hollister, son Robert Deyarmin Jr. of Susanville, son Jeff Deyarmin of Hollister, sister Betty Brookshire of Hollister and several grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements for cremation have been made through Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Crematory. Friends attended the memorial service at Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Funeral Home Friday. Private followed at IOOF Cemetery with military honors.
Donations are preferred to the Stroke or Heart Foundations c/o the Mortuary Chapel.
Eleanor E. Fultz
Eleanor Fultz, a Hollister resident, died February 7. She was 83.
Mrs. Fultz was a former resident of Burlingame for many years. She lived in San Jose for eight years before moving here in 1980. Mrs. Fultz and her husband were married for 61 years last February. She was a homemaker most of her life, she and her husband enjoyed fishing in the Pacific Ocean and she enjoyed playing golf.
Mrs. Fultz is survived by her husband Clyde W. Fultz of Hollister, son Ronald Lloyd of San Jose, son Dennis Lee Fultz of Redwood City, son Donald George of Hollister, four grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, brother Bill Asmussen of South San Francisco, sister Vernice Rogers of San Luis Obispo and several nieces.
Arrangements are being made for cremation at Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Crematory. A memorial services will be scheduled at the funeral home chapel at a later date to which friends will be invited.
Marilyn Lucchetti
Marilyn Lucchetti, a founding member of Sacred Heart Bingo and a Hollister resident, died February 6.
Ms. Lucchetti attended Sacred Heart Convent, Norte Dame high school, San Benito Jr. College and Heald Business College. She was a member of Sacred Heart Church. Ms. Lucchetti was an avid reader, traveler – visiting every state in the U.S. and the Caribbean and Panama. She enjoyed going to the symphony and plays in the Bay Area. She worked for Winn & Co. Insurance Office in Hollister as a receptionist and an executive secretary.
Ms. Lucchetti is survived by her mother, Mary Lucchetti of Hollister, sister Terry Cruz of Hollister niece Stacey Cruz Rodriguez of Hollister, nephew Michael Cruz of Hollister, aunt Lena Pacheco of Hollister, aunt Margaret Klobucar of San Francisco, aunt Rose Falcone of Hollister, aunt Lois Matulich of San Jose and numerous cousins. She preceded in death by her father John A. Lucchetti.
Visitations was held at Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Funeral Home on Friday. Entombment was at Calvary Mausoleum.
Donations may be made to Visiting Nurses or San Benito Home Health Care c/o the Mortuary Chapel.
Katharina "Katie" Mahaffey
Katharina Mahaffey, a former owner of the restaurant concession at Bolado Park Golf Course, died February 7. She was 77.
Mrs. Mahaffey was born in Eggenfelden, Germany, and came to San Benito 45 years ago from Germany. She operated the restaurant concession at Bolado Park Golf Course for many years with her husband. When they retired her husband passed away shortly after and then she went to work for Paine’s Restaurant and later managed the Brand Club. Mrs. Mahaffey was a member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary of Hollister.
Mrs. Mahaffey is survived by her sister Maria Haas of Downey, nephew Dieter Haas of Santa Monica and many nieces and nephews in Germany. She preceded in death by her husband James Clarence Mahaffey, who died in 1965.
Arrangements have been made for cremation through Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Crematory. Her cremains will be buried in Golden Gate National Cemetery at San Bruno next to her late husband.
Morris C. Risinger
Morris Risinger, a Gilroy resident, died February 7. He was 84.
Mr. Risinger was born in Terry Prairie, Mont., and moved to Morgan Hill from Eagle Point, Ore., in 1999 when his wife Fay died in Eagle Point. Prior to his retirement Mr. Risinger had worked in various lumber mills. They had lived in Eagle Point 15 years. Mr. Risinger’s wife Fay had many relatives in Hollister area.
Mr. Risinger is survived by his son Richard Large of Oregon, daughter Nancy Casto of Auburn, daughter Dixie Booher of San Juan Bautista, son Richard Risinger of Gilroy, daughter Linda Gonzalez of Gilroy, close friend Sharon Conrad of Morgan Hill, close friend Gladys Aichele of Morgan Hill and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Fay Risinger and son Max Risinger.
Graveside services were held February 12, 2001 at the IOOF Cemetery in Hollister. Rev. Ardyss Golden of the United Methodist Church in Hollister officiated. Black Cooper Sander Funeral Home in Hollister, CA was in charge of the arrangements.
Donations are preferred to the American Cancer Society in memory of Mr. Risinger.
Myrtle A. Waters
Myrtle Waters, a Hollister resident and former rural schoolteacher, died February 10. She was 101.
Mrs. Waters was born in Chicago and had been in San Benito since 1920. She attended what is now San Jose State University and received a teaching credential. The college was called San Jose Normal School. She taught in county schools for 25 years and was a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.
Mrs. Waters is survived by her daughter Mary Mattos of Hollister, daughter Sarah Schmidt of Hollister, daughter Joan Destefanis of Hollister, sister Thelma Shelvock of Hollister, nine grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Lloyd Waters, who died in 1977, and her daughter Martha Waters who died in 1948.
Funeral services were held February 14 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. Rev. Joan Gardner officiated. Black Cooper Sander Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Donations are preferred to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, c/o Black Cooper Sander Funeral Home, 363 7th Street, Hollister, CA 95023.
