Obituaries
Maria Favero passed peacefully away at her home in Sonoma on Aug. 13, 2009. She was 88. A longtime resident of San Francisco and a native of Italy, Sonoma was home for the last seven years. Maria is survived by her loving husband, of 60 years, Armando Favero; she is also survived by, and was the loving mother of: Fred Favero and was the loving mother-in-law of his wife Ginger Martin-Favero; she was the loving grandmother of Diona (Jason) Love and Lisa (John) Favero-Penick; and loving great-grandmother of Carley and Katie Love and Madison Penick.
Maria was a kind and caring person who always had a smile on her face. She was a warm and loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She will be dearly missed.
Friends and family are invited to attend a celebration of her life and Mass on Monday, Aug. 24, 2009 at St. Francis Solano Church. In lieu of flowers donations may be made, in her name, to the charity of your choice. Private Inurnment. Arrangements under the direction of Duggan’s Mission Chapel.
David George Yenni passed away following a tragic accident on Aug. 11, 2009 in Petaluma at the age of 13. David was born Feb. 21, 1996 at Memorial Hospital to Norman and Nadine Yenni and lived in Schellville his whole life. He attended Old Adobe Preschool, Prestwood Elementary and Adele Harrison Middle School. He had attended Adele for two years and was about to start the eighth grade.
David was active in the scouting program since the age of six and had set his sights on becoming an Eagle Scout. He was a member of BSA Troop 16 in Sonoma under the leadership of Mr. Ken Perry where he served the troop as Chaplain and Den Chief. He was a karate student at North Bay Kung Fu and Karate since 2004. He started in the Young Dragons program for children and had just transitioned into the adult program last spring. He had earned the rank of brown belt in August 2008 and was working toward a black belt.
David was an avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoyed swimming, canoeing, hiking and rock climbing. There was no challenge he was not willing to tackle in the outdoors including the flying trapeze at Adventure Camp. Indoors, he was a master of video games like “Call of Duty.”
His wry sense of humor was well known among friends and family. He took great joy in presenting his family with a toothpaste cupcake or candles that wouldn’t blow out, all the while maintaining a straight face. He was well liked by his fellow campers, adored by his counselors at Nature Camp, Adventure Camp and Scout Camps. He enjoyed most kinds of music from contemporary rap to classical rock and also played tenor sax in the school band.
David was predeceased by grandparents, Glenn and Pat Yenni of Sonoma and George Likar of Pennsylvania. He is survived by his parents Norman and Nadine, older brother Andrew, uncle Scott Yenni and his family; cousins Georgia and David Bostedt, Godparents Diana and Roger Rhoten, and his dog Gus, all of Sonoma; Grandmother Helen in Pennsylvania; and many dear school and scout friends in Sonoma.
A private internment will take place in Mountain Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family invites donations to the David Yenni Memorial Fund established at Sonoma Valley Bank. These funds will be used to establish scholarships for youth activities. Friends are invited to David’s celebration of life to be announced in the coming weeks. Check out davidyenni.com for information and also to post comments to the family. Please direct your questions to Duggan’s Mission Chapel.
Elizabeth Honey, 55, of Sonoma died Aug. 17, 2009 at home in Sonoma. She was the daughter of Joe Gomez and the late Dora Gomez., the loving mother of Michelle Honey of Sonoma and former wife of Sam Honey. She was the dear sister of Annelle Feldmann, Dorothy Leuallen, Christine Ludlow and JoAnn Trette. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
She was a veteran of the U.S. Army, Vietnam era, Elizabeth was a flight attendant for United Airlines for 10 years. She was a master gardener and avid hiker. She retired in 1986 to become a dedicated mother and homemaker. She was an eight-year resident of Sonoma, a former resident of Marin and native of Sacramento, Calif.
Friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service at Duggan’s Mission Chapel on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009 at 11 a.m. Inurnment will be private and donations to the American Cancer Society are preferred by the family.
George Siebert of “George’s 3 Nations,” left us on Aug. 8, 2009. George was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia in 1920. He was fond of childhood memories of the pet shop his mother owned and ran in Prague. His life was long and filled with hardship and adventure. He survived Nazi as well as Communist occupations. George was arduous and business savvy, becoming an engineer draftsman and partnering with his brother, Joseph, to start a plumbing and heating business. They grew the company to 80 people and in 1953 they had to flee the country to avoid being incarcerated for a second time by the Communists. Throughout their escape story, they both sported great bravery and courage worthy of the big screen. In his flight, George was forced to leave behind a wife and daughter. The brothers made it to the western world by getting into West Berlin through East Germany and East Berlin. From West Berlin, they were sent to Hamburg as political refugees where they worked in the port as laborers, unloading cargo ships and later as ship design draftsmen.
In 1956, the two brothers applied to come to the United States. They traveled by ship, to have some time to study English. They ended up working in the Bethlehem Shipyard in Baltimore and George later made his way to the Bethlehem Shipyard in San Francisco. He opened his first restaurant in 1961, the Vienna Schnitzel House, at the end of Lombard Street. Europeans gathered there, he used his mother’s recipes, some of which were 300 years old, and soon became famous as the Goulash King. George met Hannelore, his wife of 41 years, at the Schnitzel House and they had two daughters, Suzanna (Susi) and Jeannette.
George and Hannelore bought the Chauvet Hotel in Glen Ellen in 1971. Opened as a beautiful European restaurant, it evolved into what was later known as “George’s.” The name “3 Nations” represented Czechoslovakia, Germany and the United State. The family had a rough start, which included a boycotting of the business by those who mistook George’s Slavic accent for German and accused him of being a Nazi. It didn’t take long, however, for locals and people from all over the Bay Area and afar to come and “George’s 3 Nations” became a popular gathering place for all. Décor was eclectic, fun and funky and George offered 45 different beers from all over the world, well before brew pubs came into fashion. There was an arcade for kids and something for everyone from financial district CEO’s to Hell’s Angels. It was the love for George himself however, that made the place. For those who remember George’s, they know there’s just nothing like it.
George was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on June 5 of this year. His amazing and profoundly positive spirit, bravery and courage couldn’t be daunted even by this most ruthlessly ferocious disease. His humor endured throughout and he continued to make those around him smile, even when he could only move his eyebrows in response. George leaves behind a grand family of friends and admirers, Hannelore Siebert, daughter Bianca Duus and her family residing in Germany, daughters Suzanna Siebert and Jeannette Arietta, son-in-law George Arietta and grandchildren Alexandra Suzanna Arietta and Colton George Arietta, as well as family in the Czech Republic.
A memorial service will be held at St. Francis Solano Church in Sonoma, Friday, Aug. 21 at 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, if you would like to make a donation in George’s honor, please do so with Hospice of the North Bay or Bon Marche in Sonoma.
Harold Leroy “Hal” Woods died peacefully in San Rafael, on Aug. 14, 2009, he was 85. Hal was born in 1924 in Greeley, Colo. to Roy and Ella Woods. Hal graduated from Mission High School, San Francisco in Jan. 1942 and he proudly served in the U.S. Army Air Force from 1943 to 1945. After earning his wings he was assigned as a B17 waist gunner with the 384th Bombardment Group, 546th Squadron in the European Theater. During his 12th mission he bailed out over Germany, was captured and became a POW in Germany from Aug. 5, 1944 to May 2,1945.
Upon his return he married Mary Flahive (now deceased). They were married for 32 years and were blessed with six children; Sharon Castaldo (Ralph), Michael Woods, Nancy Bennett, John Woods (Patricia), Joan Bonwood and Mary Lynn Woods; he is also survived by seven grandchildren; Danielle and Jennifer Castaldo, Patrick Woods, Torin and Ty Ortiga and Paige and Drew Bonwood.
Hal married Jeanette Oclassen Summerfield on Jan. 12, 1980 and enjoyed 29 happy years together: playing golf, traveling and flying their Cessna 172 throughout the western states and Baja California. He was a loving, faithful partner. In this marriage Hal was blessed with two stepsons: John Summerfield and David Summerfield (Joni); and three step grandchildren; Matthew Summerfield, Breanna Summerfield and Kristin Summerfield.
Hal was a 1960 graduate of University of San Francisco Law School; he practiced law for 25 years as a partner in the Lank & Woods Law Firm, and an additional two years as a sole practitioner, retiring in 1986. Hal was a past president of the Geneva-Mission Business Persons Association and the San Francisco Optimists Club, as well as past member of the Lyons Club, and Marin Country Club. At the time of his passing he was a member of Sonoma Skypark Airport and the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 1268.
Hal was an avid reader and enjoyed golf, flying, watercolor painting and going out to lunch. A memorable flight was when he and John Carmichael flew an antique Piper Clipper plane from Anchorage, Alaska to Sonoma. Hal had a good sense of humor, was sociable, witty and often broke out in song with little “ditties.” He will be greatly missed by family and friends.
Donations in his name may be made to Aviation Explorers Post 1268, c/o Sonoma Skypark Airport, 21870 8th Street East, Sonoma, CA 95476; or American Legion Jack London Post, PO Box 578, Sonoma, CA 95476; or the charity of your choice.
Friends and family attended a visitation and vigil on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at Duggan’s Mission Chapel and a Mass on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009 at St. Francis Solano Catholic Church. Interment will be at Sacramento Valley VA National Cemetery, Dixon, Calif. Arrangements under the direction of Duggan’s Mission Chapel.
