Anna Sue Asby, wife, mother, grandmother, teacher and friend extraordinaire, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009, at Kaiser Hospital in San Rafael. She was 65. Anna Sue staged a two-year battle against ovarian cancer, and despite its punishing blows, loved, laughed and lunched with her characteristic humor and panache. She always had one more great story to tell.
Born Anna Sue Wayne on Dec. 4, 1943, in Hodgenville, Ky, she was a Kentucky country girl at heart. Raised on a farm with no running water, Anna Sue delighted in her Kentucky home and heritage. Her father, retired Col. Allen Wayne of the United States Air Force, was stationed overseas during World War II and the family, her mother, Dorothy, and sister, Patsy, moved around the country as he was at times stationed in Texas, Florida, California and South Dakota. She first attended school in Buffalo, Ky, where students bought their own textbooks. Later graduating from Armijo High School in Fairfield, Anna Sue attended: Centre College of Kentucky, University California, Davis and Sonoma State University with a double major in psychology and English. She worked briefly for the County of Sonoma as a social worker and probation officer. After obtaining her teaching credential in 1968, Anna Sue taught English at Napa and Analy high schools, and then spent 30 dedicated years at Altimira Middle School where she touched the lives and remained in touch with countless Sonoma youths. Upon retirement in 2001, she continued to work for the Sonoma Valley Unified School District as a consultant.
In 1992 Anna Sue met Curtis Lee Asby, and they were married July 8, 1995, on her parent’s farm in Kentucky. Settling in Sonoma, Anna Sue and Curtis would nonetheless take several trips back to Kentucky to visit her parents. Friends who visited the farm were always treated to a week of Dorothy Wayne’s down-home cooking, picturesque countryside and a tour of Maker’s Mark whiskey distillery, evenings engaged in lively conversation on the front porch, and, depending on the time of year, tickets to the Kentucky Derby. Building lasting friendships was one of Anna Sue’s strengths and her many friends will miss her wisecracks and wit, shopping trips to the dollar stores, bet discussions for the Kentucky Derby, her many bangles and baubles worn with flair, coveted visits to the Kentucky farm, crossword puzzle-phone calls, Ramekins cooking classes, well-told stories and jokes, crazy antics and laughing like crazy. Her great friends, Pam Winston, Genie Evers, Janine Tommasi, Randy Litzenberg, Starr and Gary Green, Lee Ann Knuthson, and so many more, were constantly awed by her courage and determination, her love and support of others, even as she was ailing.
Anna Sue was preceded in death by her incredible father who passed in Nov. 2008, and survived by her husband, Curtis, of Sonoma; mother, Dorothy Wayne of Fairfield; two wonderful sons, Sean and Joseph Schlobohm of Florida; her sister, Patsy Young of Fairfield; and five fabulous cousins, Dian Graham, Beverly Brooks (Dan), Suzanne Walker, Graham Holden and Monica Deutsch (Ray).
At her request, no memorial services will be held. A Celebration of Life is planned for later in the fall. Contributions in her name can be made to Altimira Middle School at 17805 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, CA 95476; Pets Lifeline, 19686 Eighth St. E., Sonoma, CA 95476; or Campbellsville Baptist Church, 420 N. Central Ave., Campbellsville, KY 42718-2099.
Sally Louise Gries died peacefully at her home in Sonoma on Sept. 9, 2009, she was 58.
Born and raised in Marin County, she graduated from Redwood High School in 1969.
After some college and a brief marriage, she began her bookkeeping and accounting career through training with Delos Smith’s firm in Sonoma.
A long time resident of Sonoma, Sally worked for the Sonoma Mission Inn, the Swiss Hotel and The Cheese Factory where she was also the assistant to the late owner, Pete Viviani.
She is survived by her beloved father Robert and his wife Judy of Tiburon, her brother Robert and her mother Helen of Oceanside, and her dearest lifelong friend, Margaret Garcia, now living in Oregon. A private celebration of her life in pending; Sally will be sorely missed by us all.
Arrangements are under the direction of Duggan’s Mission Chapel.
Joanne Garey Maggioncalda, 81, passed away suddenly on July 19, 2009 in Sonoma. Joanne was born August 1927 in Philadelphia. She was the oldest child of Leonard and Alice Garey. Raised in Philadelphia, Joanne graduated from St. Mary’s Nursing School as a registered nurse in 1948. She was introduced to her future husband, “Bud” by a former classmate and married for almost 60 years. Joanne began her nursing career in Philadelphia and worked for 11 years before moving to South Jersey to raise her family. She continued her nursing career when she accepted a staff position at a new hospital, Rancocas Valley in Levittown, N.J. in August 1961.
In 1963, she became Nursing Supervisor for the growing hospital and later accepted a position of Director of Nursing as the hospital continued to expand. Joanne implemented the design and development of the hospital’s ICU and CCU units. “Maggie,” as she was known among the hospital staff, also worked for several years in the special-care nursery department and retired after 41 years of dedicated nursing. At that time in 1989, she was interviewed by the local South New Jersey newspaper and here is an excerpt from that interview: “(When) asked about the state of health care in the country she said it needed help. ‘There’s a lot that’s missed – a lot of waste in it. It needs more supervision.’ She explained that a lot of taxpayer money is wasted in the administration of government programs. Maggie isn’t opposed to socialized medicine. ‘I don’t think it’s a bad idea. Patient care might be organized a little better. We’re partly there with HMOs.’ She advised beginning nurses not to be too eager to specialize, but to work in many areas to gain valuable experience. As for working with doctors, Maggie had no problems. ‘ The majority are very good, but there’s always one oddball,’ she said.”
Maggie was a skilled seamstress creating beautiful children’s clothes and magnificent cross stitch. Her talent continued in oil painting. After retiring, Joanne and Jim moved to a senior community in Florida where they enjoyed many friendships and golf. Joanne became an accomplished golfer, setting a community record of scoring two holes in one. After 12 years in Florida, Maggie and Jim moved to Sonoma, Calif. to be closer to family. Jim predeceased Joanne in October 2008.
Joanne is survived by her five children; Joanne Weaver (John) of Somers Point, N.J., Suzanne Arbocus (Bill) of Williamsburg, Va, Dianne Norris (Jim) of Cape May Court House, N.J., James T. Maggioncalda, Jr. (Clare) of Cherry Hill, N.J. and Michael Maggioncalda (Lori) of Sonoma, Calif. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren; Andrew (Kimberly), Amy (Rob), Steven, Julie, Rachel, Emily, Jake, Danny, Greg and Emma, as well as three great-grandchildren; Owen, Riley and Abigail.
Many thanks to the loving staff at Sonoma Hills, where untold acts of kindness were extended toward Joanne during her stay.
A private graveside service was held at the Sonoma Mountain Cemetery, Veterans Memorial Park where Joanne was inurned next to her late husband James. Friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Joanne’s Life at 12 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009 at The Church of St. Pius X, 344 Kression Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034. Memorial contributions in her honor can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 North Michigan Avenue, 17th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601-7633. Inquiries can be made to Duggan’s Mission Chapel, Mission Cremation Service at 707.996.3655 or duggansmissionchapel.com who handled arrangements.
