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Joseph John Secchitano, a native of San Francisco and longtime resident of Sonoma, passed from us on Feb. 12, 2008, at his home, after a long illness, his family at his side. He was 79. Joe attended San Francisco schools and was a graduate of Mission High School.
Joseph’s beloved wife Clarice preceded him in death in 1967. His children have fond and loving memories of this kind and loving man of great strength who raised them after their mom’s death.
Joe and Clarice moved to Sonoma in 1960, where he bought a three-acre ranch which was, next to his family, the love of his life. After retiring as a supervisor and technician for Pacific Fire Extinguisher Inc. in San Francisco, where he worked for 32 years, he spent most of his time on his ranch. In addition to his work, he had a great passion for his farm and all the work entailed in running it. He had cows, lambs and pigs, as well as vegetable and fruit gardens. He made his own cheese, butter and even soap. Multi-talented, Joe could fix anything – from mechanical things to upholstery. He loved to help his friends with any projects they had. A member of the Moose Lodge, he loved to have dinner with friends and family there and he also loved to travel in his motor home and visit friends in Arizona.
Joe is survived by his five children: Denise Emery (Dick), and Joanne, Joseph (Connie), James and John Secchitano. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Jenise Kneeland (Rodd), Lisa Heard (J.P.), Amandor Herandez (Janet), Lacey and Lauren Secchitano; and by his great grandchildren, Colton, Gianna, Dominic, Jaren, Gisselle and Angelica.
He will be dearly missed by his family and friends. Friends are invited to attend a Celebration of his life at Duggan’s Mission Chapel, 525 W. Napa St., Sonoma, on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008, at 3 p.m. Donations may be made in his name to the American Cancer Society, Santa Rosa Unit, 1451 Guerneville Road, Suite 220, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. Arrangements under the direction of Duggan’s Mission Chapel, Mission Cremation Service
Mary Charlene (Shear) Scarborough, known as “Char” to her many friends, died peacefully at home in Sonoma on Jan. 31, 2008 after several years of declining health. Char was born in Oakland on Jan. 2, 1928 to Capt. Charles Leslie Shear and Mary Ellen (Curran) Shear. Throughout her very active life she found great fulfillment working with youth in settings as diverse as the Oakland Recreation Department and Los Guilicos School for Girls, earning numerous awards and commendations over the years. Equally rewarding was her lifelong love and appreciation of animals, and she was never without one or more pets sharing her life and adventures.
Her most treasured role was as mother to her three children, Cynthia, Craig and Clifford Scarborough. Even as a single, working mom she found time to be actively involved in their school and extracurricular activities, immensely enriching their lives and those of their friends.
In addition to her children she is survived by her grandson Peter Scarborough, her brother James Shear and numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
Char’s caring spirit and sincere love of people and animals earned her many true and lasting friends. She will be greatly missed by the many people whose lives she enriched.
A celebration of Charlene’s life will be held at Vintage House on Saturday afternoon, March 15. Those wishing to join the celebration are invited to come between 1-4 p.m. for a sharing of fond memories and some of Char’s favorite foods.
For those so desiring, donations in her memory may be made to FISH, Meals on Wheels, Pets Lifeline, Vintage House Senior Center or the charity of your choice.
James “Jim” Stanley Stewart, of Sonoma, died January 30, 2008, after a brief illness. Born to Thomas and Louisa Stanley on June 5, 1923, in Ingersol, Canada. Jim joined the Navy/Marine Corps and served with distinction as a corpsman in the South Pacific during World War II. He saw action at Iwo Jima, landing with the third wave. Near the end of the war he was stationed in northern China, where his Marine Corps buddy showed him a picture of his girlfriend. Little did Jim know that the picture was of his future wife, Patricia. After returning from the war, Jim met the girl in the picture and married the love of his life, Patricia Marcy, in 1950. Jim graduated from Long Beach State with a Bachelor of Science in accounting. Shortly thereafter he worked with the U.S. Treasury Department as an auditor.
In 2001 they moved to Sonoma to begin another chapter in their life. Jim was a true Christian, he believed in treating each person with respect and kindness: “You do not gossip or talk bad about a person.”
He is very much loved and missed by his loving wife of 58 years, Patricia Stanley; his five children, Heidi Boatman (Carl), Marcy Huxtable (Ross), Mark Stanley (Jean), Mulatua Damtew (Belay) and Yacob Damtew (Teggy); eleven grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; and sisters Millicent Krishun and Katherine Ickes.
A memorial service was held at Trinity Episcopal Church in Sonoma on Saturday, Feb. 9. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Hospice By The Bay.
Carrie Crystal Ford Kornek, 91, of Sonoma, died Feb. 5, 2008, in Sonoma. Carrie was the mother of Kenneth E. Ford of Sonoma and the late Robert N. Ford and Donald R. Ford. She was the grandmother of Larry, Jeff and Robert Ford, Debi Woods, Linda and Jeanette Ford, Lori Miron and Lyndie Strand. She was the great grandmother of 14.
Carrie was a psychiatric technician at the Sonoma Developmental Center for 25 years. She was a 68-year resident of Sonoma and a native of Sylvia, Tenn. Private interment was held at Mountain Cemetery in Sonoma. Arrangements under the direction of Duggan’s Mission Chapel, 525 W. Napa St., Sonoma.
Hazel Florence McCadden (nee. Vandersluis), 98, passed away peacefully in Sonoma on Feb. 11, 2008. Hazel was born Aug. 5, 1909 in St. Cloud, Minn. to Edward and Louise Vandersluis. She was a public relations officer in real estate for 21 years. After retirement, she volunteered for Friends of the Library and was proud of her “3,000 volunteer hours” pin with the Sonoma Valley Hospital Auxiliary that she had amassed since 1996. Hazel loved to travel worldwide with her husband George, and was a 31-year resident of Sonoma. Most people will remember her as the lady with the red cap on her white hair, who traveled the sidewalks of Sonoma in her blue victory cart with the American flag on the back.
Hazel is predeceased by her loving husband, George McCadden (1996), and is survived by her two nephews, Ronald and Roger Haxby and her grandniece and caretaker, Barbara Haxby.
At this time, no formal services will be held. Family gatherings are being planned for a later date both in Sonoma and back in Minnesota. Inquiries can be directed to Duggan’s Mission Chapel. Final disposition is a donation to science at the U.C. Medical Center in San Francisco. Memorial donations in Hazel’s honor can be made to the charity of the donor’s choice. Arrangements are under the direction of Duggan’s Mission Chapel, 525 W. Napa St., Sonoma.
Jane Barbara Faight, 91, passed away peacefully on Feb. 11, 2008 in Sonoma. Jane was born March 11, 1916 in Alameda to Vernon and Vivian Clark. She was a homemaker, a Sonoma resident since 1976 and a member of the Sonoma United Methodist Church.
Jane is predeceased by her loving husbands, George Crawford and Myron O. Faight. She is survived by her daughters, Lynda Ann Rocha, of Portland, Ore., and Shirley Ann Park, of Mountain View; granddaughter, Jennifer Arnett, of Mountain View.
At her request, no formal services will be held. A private sea-scattering off the Marin County Coast will take place at a later date. Memorial donations in Jane’s honor can be made to the charity of the donor’s choice. The cremation was performed by Mission Cremation Service, under the direction of Duggan’s Mission Chapel.
