Dolores Marie Murphy died June 11, 2008, at home in Santa Rosa. Dolores was the wife of the late James Murphy, the daughter of the late Frank and Lauretta Canevari and sister of the late Donald Canevari. She was the dear mother of Denise Marie Duncan of Santa Rosa and Yvonne Marie Meehan of Santa Rosa. She was the grandmother of Shannon Michele Meehan and sister-in-law of Patricia Canevari of Sonoma. She is also survived by nieces and grandnieces and nephews.
Dolores attended St. Mary’s School of Nursing in San Francisco and then returned to Sonoma and worked as a medical assistant for 30 years in local doctors’ offices. She was a graduate of Sonoma Valley High School, class of 1949. She was a native of Sonoma, aged 76 years.
Funeral services were held at Duggan’s Mission Chapel, and a funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Francis Solano Catholic Church. Interment was in the family plot at St. Francis Cemetery, Sonoma. Donations in Dolores’s memory to the SPCA are peferred.
Maxine Elizabeth Traub, 91, passed away peacefully in Sonoma on June 12, 2008. Born in Vermillion, Alberta, Canada in 1917, Maxine was the youngest of three children of Walter and Pearl (Shannon) Nellis, and perhaps was the apple of her dad’s eye. Maxine pursued her dream of becoming a registered nurse and graduated from St. Paul’s School of Nursing in Saskatoon. During her career as a nurse, Maxine took great joy in working in operating rooms and helping others. Although those who received Maxine’s personal care were truly fortunate, she often mentioned that her tours in the maternity wards were her most treasured moments. On May 16, 1942, Maxine married Gaymon Traub in Edmonton, Alberta. In 1950, they moved to northern California where the family continued to grow. While Gaymon served as the credit manager for American Forest Products in San Francisco, Maxine became a charter member of the Sunny Hills Novato Guild, a wonderful organization that helps children in need. After the passing of Gaymon, Maxine relocated to the Sonoma Hills Retirement Community in 2001 where the love and affection from her friends and the staff were always a source of joy for her.
Maxine was a most thoughtful, charming, lovely lady who is survived by her four children and their spouses: Gordon and Randi, Kathy and Chris, Doug and Marty, Neil and Christiane; seven grandchildren and three great-grand children. Everyone loved Maxine and will miss her dearly.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, June 29, at 1:30 p.m., at the Sonoma Hills Retirement Center, 405 W. MacArthur St., Sonoma. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice by the Bay or the Sunny Hills Children’s Garden. Inquiries can be made to Duggan’s Mission Chapel.
David Buchendler, a native of Chicago, Ill. and born to Joseph and Jenny Buchendler, Russian immigrants, on May 30, 1922, passed away on May 29, 2008, in Sonoma. A longtime resident of Sonoma, he was 85. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and lived a most adventurous life.
David received his bachelor’s degree from De Paul University in Chicago, 1949 and attended the University of Alaska in 1959 for a summer program. He taught high school physical and biological sciences in France at the U.S. Government School from 1960 to 1965. He was a Peace Corps volunteer in the 1990s, which took him to Nepal, Africa, Tibet, Samoa and Cameroon.
He was an Alumni of Tulane University, where he received his master’s degree in public health. David was a Volunteer for Israel with the Jewish Volunteer Corps, under the American Jewish World Service Program in 1985.
An administrator for the Food and Drug Administration for over 35 years, he enjoyed this time working in San Francisco on Haight Street. He also worked for the San Francisco Water Department. A hard-working, adventurous and devoted person, his volunteer spirit and idealism are true testament and inspiration to all for the peace and tolerance he hoped to see in the world.
Dave was a member of Park Point Health Club here in Sonoma and loved his regular daily routine there and enjoyed the camaraderie and friendships he made there, and they enjoyed him. He swam every day, right up to two days before his death.
David is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Jacqueline Elizabeth Buchendler of France; by his dear friend John Rothman, of San Francisco; by Marie Galanti, of Santa Rosa; and by their loving caregivers Dianne and Kathie Pinotich, Ken Backman and Robert Elliott, all of Sonoma.
Private Services and Inurnment will be held. Arrangements under the direction of Duggan’s Mission Chapel, Mission Cremation Service, 525 W. Napa St., Sonoma.
Angelo G. Ventresco, LCDR, USN-retired, died peacefully at his home in Sonoma on Saturday, June 14, 2008 at age 91, following a brief illness. “Tony,” a native of Chelsea, Mass., enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an apprentice seaman in 1936. He became a commissioned officer in 1943 and married the late Constance Zona of Belmont, Mass., in 1944. He served his country for 28 years before retiring from the Navy, and then continued to serve his local communities through various volunteer activities. A 35-year resident of Sonoma County, Tony lived at Temelec for the past 27 years. He is survived by his three children, Richard, Barbara and Thomas, and their families, including five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; his sister, Eleanor Bottafuoco; and his loving wife of 27 years, Geraldine.
A visitation at Duggan’s Mission Chapel, 525 W. Napa St., Sonoma, will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 19, followed immediately by an interment service at the Sonoma Veterans Memorial Park. Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Petaluma or the Sonoma Veterans Memorial Park.
Barbare Gear Jaques passed away peacefully in her Sonoma home after a brief illness, surrounded by her loving family. She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Bill, her parents Louis and Anna Gear, and her sister Beverly Gear. She is survived by her sister, Margaret Swigart of San Luis Obispo; son Jeff of Roseville; daughter and son-in-law Denise and Bob Murray of Sonoma; and grandchildren Sara, Kyle and Alyssa Murray.
Barbara grew up in the San Joaquin Valley, where she began her elementary school teaching career. After marriage, she and Bill raised their family in Alameda and Lafayette where she enjoyed spending time with her children, golfing at the Orinda Country Club and oil painting. In 1967 they moved to Exeter, where they owned and operated a walnut ranch. In 1990, Barbara and Bill retired to the Napa Valley to be closer to the family.
She cherished her last few years living in a quaint cottage in Sonoma just yards from her daughter and family. She loved family gatherings, bird watching, growing orchids, reading and dining in Sonoma’s many lovely restaurants. With a twinkle in her blue eyes, Grandma Barb would tell detailed stories to her family and friends about her life and Scottish heritage. She was a loving and adoring wife, mother and grandmother who will be greatly missed. Private family committal services were held at Sonoma Veteran’s Memorial Park. Arrangements under the direction of Duggan’s Mission Chapel.
