Brian Gary Steiner, 32, well-known Sonoma resident, died Tuesday morning, Dec. 16, 2008, leaving the world a less entertaining place. He is survived by his loving wife, Juliet McCullough Steiner. United by their carefree spirit, Star Wars, and Mardi Gras, Brian and Juliet were married in 1999, walking down the aisle to Darth Vader’s Theme. Brian was so proud of his two beautiful children, Max and Claudia, and always the excited leader on family trips to Disneyland. Brian also leaves behind his mother, Judy Johnson (Jim); father, Gary J. Steiner (Diane); brother, Gary M. Steiner (Melissa); sister, Gail Trowbridge (Corey); and younger twin brothers, Sammy and Danny. Brian loved a party, and he was a legendary host. The Halloween festivities at the Steiner home were famous throughout the town, and his legendary barbecues will never be forgotten. He enjoyed cooking, collecting cookbooks on his cherished lunchtime junk store hunts with his best friend, Pete McCullough. Brian was proud to be the paint expert at Jackson’s Hardware in San Rafael; his coworkers there were a second family to him. A huge, heartbroken group of loving friends and family members unite in their opinion that this really sucks.
A fund for the Steiner children’s education has been set up at the Sonoma Valley Bank by the Prestwood PTO.
A memorial service was held Monday at St. Francis Solano church. Arrangements under the direction of Duggan’s Mission Chapel, 525 W. Napa St. Sonoma.
Helen Victoria Weglarz, 89, died peacefully at home in Sonoma on Dec. 16, 2008. Helen was born on May 13, 1919 and grew up in Greenpoint, NY, which is a large Polish neighborhood in Brooklyn. On June 11, 1939, she married Chester, who was known as “Wiggins” and “Wiggy,” and they had two children, Larry and Eileen. They later moved to Huntington Long Island, where they both worked and raised their family. The summers were spent camping around all the mountain ranges of the United States and seeing all the points of interest. They retired in the Pocono Mountains, where Wiggy died in November of 1996. Two years later, Helen moved to Sonoma to be near her daughter and spent the last 10 years at Merrill Gardens, where she met and befriended so many wonderful people. She leaves behind her children, Larry and Eileen, and her grandchildren, Sean and Alyssa.
A celebration of Helen’s Life was held on Monday, Dec. 22 at Merrill Gardens, 800 Oregon St., Sonoma. Arrangements under the direction of Duggan’s Mission Chapel, 525 W. Napa St. Sonoma.
Concepcion Martinez, a native of Mexico and resident of Sonoma, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer, on Dec. 18, 2008, her family at her side. She was 47.
She was the loving daughter of Guadalupe Perez; adored mother of Mayra, Jessica and Mayela Martinez; loving grandmother of Ivette and Andre Martinez and Melina and Yohan Mondragon.
Concepcion was a loving and caring daughter, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She was the best mother anyone could ever have and she will never be forgotten.
A visitation and vigil service were held on Monday, Dec. 22. Friends are invited to attend a funeral Mass and service today, Tuesday, Dec. 23 at St. Francis Solano Church, Third Street West and West Napa Street, at 1 p.m. Private inurnment. Arrangements under the direction of Duggan’s Mission Chapel, 525 W. Napa St., Sonoma.
