Obituaries
Joseph E. Curnen, 79, of Sonoma, died Feb. 6, 2009, at home in Sonoma.
He is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Florence, and by his sisters, Alice Cosenza of Hamden, Conn.; Katherine Curnen of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; and the late Patricia Kudej.
Joseph was a retired Air Force Tech Sargent for 21 years. He was stationed in Guam, Korea, Vietnam, French Morocco and Newfoundland. He retired from Hamilton Air Force base in 1969. He was the past commander of the VFW Post # 78 in Novato and past commander of the VFW Post # 1943 in Sonoma.
Friends and family attended funeral services on Wednesday, Feb. 11 at Duggan’s Mission Chapel. Interment followed at the Sonoma Veterans Memorial Park.
Salvador L. Cisneros passed away Feb. 6, 2009. Cisneros was born April 21, 1919 in Fierro, N.M.. The eldest of seven siblings, he lost his father at age 15. He helped his mother raise his younger siblings and worked to provide for them. He has been considered the family patriarch throughout his life. While growing up in Fierro, he met his childhood sweetheart Leonor Romero, and they were married in 1943. Drafted during World War II, he served in the Asiatic Pacific Campaign, engaged in battles both in Japan and the Philippines. While away at war, his first child Yolanda was born back home in Bayard, N.M. After returning from the service, they had two more children: Ronaldo, born in Bayard, and Michael, born in El Paso, Texas where the family had moved. Salvador started working with the Singer Sewing Machine Company, and in 1963 moved his family to San Francisco and reunited with his mother and younger siblings then living in the area. He continued working with Singer and later purchased his own franchise, which expanded to two stores.
Salvador and Leonor retired to Sonoma in 1988, where they both found the slow-paced life and quaint community similar to that in New Mexico. Salvador was involved in the community and worked at the polling places during election years. He was a part of the St. Vincent de Paul society distributing food. He also enjoyed delivering meals to the homebound for Meals on Wheels with his granddaughter, Renee. He joined the Knights of Columbus Valley of the Moon council 7951 and served as council Grand Knight. He was the council trustee in charge of finance, became a member of the Bishop Leo. T Maher Assembly 2270 and served as financial secretary council. Salvador was actively involved in council activities and fundraisers.
Salvador was known to his family and friends for his honesty and loyalty, but especially his quick wit and sense of humor that filled our hearts with laughter. A wonderful husband, father and “papa,” he will be greatly missed by his family and extended family. Preceeded in death by his son, Ronaldo Cisneros (25 years). He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Yolanda and Krystopher Czyzewski of Sonoma and his son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Yvonne Cisneros of Sonoma, and three grandchildren, Renee, Jeromy and Amanda Cisneros. Salvador is also the uncle of 61 nieces and nephews, grand-uncle of 100 nieces and nephews and great-uncle of 23 nieces and nephews.
Salvador is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Inocente and Juanita Cisneros, of Sonoma; sister Josefa Corona of Rossmoor, Calif. and sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Manuel Ramos, of Rocklin, Calif.; brother-in-law, Rudy Puente, of Napa and sister-in-law, Lucy Cisneros, of Sonora, Calif. Preceeded in death by his brother Arturo Cisneros, of Sonora; sister, Elvira Puente, of Napa; sister and brother-in-law, Emma and Salvador Gutierrez, of Sonoma; and brother-in-law, Bill Corona, of Newark, Calif.
Friends and family attended a visitation on Thursday, Feb. 12 at Duggan’s Mission Chapel and funeral services will also be held on Friday, Feb. 13 at 11 a.m., at St. Francis Solano Catholic Church, 469 Third St. W. Interment will follow at Sonoma Veterans Memorial Park, 90 First St. W. Arrangements under the direction of Duggan’s Mission Chapel.
Warren “Matt” Hardy, 64, of Sonoma died Feb. 9, 2009 in Sonoma. He was the loving husband of Susan K. Hardy, the adored father of Nicole Ahern and Jonathon Hardy, and dear brother of Patricia Taylor, Judy Hardy and the late Beverly Shipman. He will be dearly missed by all his family, friends, acquaintances and feline friends.
Matt was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, Vietnam conflict. He was a member of the Disabled American Veteran’s and was a retail clerk in the grocery industry for 30 years. He was a member of the Sonoma Valley Garden club for 11 years and worked in the floral industry after retirement. Matt was a 14-year resident of Sonoma and native of Healdsburg.
Friends are invited to attend a celebration of life on Monday, Feb. 16 at 2 p.m. at Duggan’s Mission Chapel, 525 W. Napa St. A private inurnment will be held at the Sacramento Valley VA National Cemetery, Dixon, Calif. Donations to American Diabetes Association are preferred by the family.
Edith Lewis passed on Jan. 30, 2009 in Sonoma, leaving family and friends to mourn. Edith was born in Ross, Calif. in 1937 to Fred and Eula Robbins, the youngest of five children, Dick, Demi, Bob and Everett. She attended Sir Francis Drake High School, where she met her best friend and husband, Dave. Edith was a devoted wife of 53 years who enjoyed backpacking, tennis, playing bridge, watching the San Francisco Giants and traveling the world with her husband, who played the tuba in the “Natural Gas Jazz Band.”
She is survived by her husband Dave Lewis and their three children, David Jr., Jim and Kathy. Edith was a mother who stayed home to raise her three children and a grandmother who adored her six grandchildren, Jeremy, Amanda, Greg, Brian, Justin and Alexis. She was also a dear friend to many whom she cherished.
Perhaps Edith can be best remembered through the words written by her daughter Kathy: “Someone we all love is gone. We have lost a trusted friend, a good listener and a loving mother. She was a little sister and aunt, a cousin, a grandmother. She was a wonderful wife, loving and kind, her heart was golden and her love was unconditional.
“She always behaved like a lady, because that is exactly what she was, a lady – a genuine lady, in every sense of the word. To some of us she was a confidante, and to all three of us children she was a mother who gave her love unselfishly. Through the eyes of a child I can still see her warmly greeting my dad as he came home from work. In my mind, now, I’m giggling and laughing as mom and I gallop across a field upon two rented horses. The guide had only my mother and I to keep an eye on during the ride, so he was kind enough to allow us to gallop the horses – Mom only agreed because she knew that I wanted to so badly. She knew how sore she’d be by the end of the day, but she never hesitated or complained because it was so important to her that I had a great time. I suspect that she always knew about our “weenie” dog, Hubert … sitting under the dinner table awaiting the lima beans, peas and other “yuckies”… Hubert saved all of us kids from certain death many times … after all everyone knows how dangerous eating lima beans and peas can be.
“She never spoke spiteful words about anyone. She carried no hate, only love. She was adored and admired by her friends and family alike. Mommy, I love and miss you so very much. We will be together in my heart, always and forever.”
Private services and inurnment will be held. Arrangements under the direction of Duggan’s Mission Chapel, Mission Cremation Service, 525 W. Napa St.
