Ave Maria Memorial Chapel
Our family is dedicated to helping you share the stories that make this community great. We provide a place to cry, to laugh, and most importantly, begin the healing process that follows the loss of a loved one. Whether traditional or unique, we help you create a meaningful way to say goodbye.
Our Obituaries
Martina Rangel Flores
May 9, 2013
Our beloved mother, grandma and great-grandmother Martina Rangel Flores peacefully passed away Thursday May 9th at Dominican Hospital. She was 67 years old. A native of Mexico, Mrs. Rangel lived in Watsonville for over 15 years were she had a prosperous life.
Mrs. Rangel is survived by her 8 daughters, Sofia Cervantes, Martha Ornelas, Maria Ornelas, Cecilia Ornelas, Teresa Ornelas, Imelda...
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Mary Margaret Manger
May 5, 2013
Mary Margaret Manger, 82, passed away Sunday May 5 at her home in Aromas, CA. She was born in Perkins County South Dakota in 1930. She lived in the Dakotas until 1940 when she and her family migrated to Gilroy California. Mary made the central coast her home. She married her husband William (Bill) Jean Manger in 1952. Mary was a nurse for 32 years. She worked with the newborn babies at...
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Eula Morgan Tanner
April 13, 1919 - May 4, 2013
Eula Morgan Tanner of Watsonville entered into rest May 4, 2013 in North Bend, OR at the age of 94. She was born, April 13, 1919 in Louisiana to James and Dora Morgan.
Survivors include her daughters Gloria Sanders and JoAnn Overturf, sons Ray Tanner, Jim Tanner and Bill Tanner and now deceased Gary Tanner. Also surviving are grandchildren and a sister Ellie Jordan. She was preceded in death by...
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Mildred J. Zellmer
May 3, 2013
Mildred J. Zellmer, 96, entered into eternal rest, Friday, May 3, 2013 in Watsonville, CA.
Mildred was born in Barnsdale, OK to Oden and Alice Buchanan. On September 26, 1935 she married Rev. Franklin T. Zellmer in Klamath Falls, OR. Mildred and Franklin moved to Chico, CA in 1940 serving in many churches in the Northern CA Conference of the Free Methodist Church until moving to Watsonville...
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Ann M. Heim
February 19, 1930 - April 23, 2013
Ann M. Heim
Ann let go of her battle with cancer in the loving arms of her family on April 23, 2013. She was born in Watsonville on February 19, 1930 to the late Martin and Anna Spikula. Her brother, Vincent Spikula died serving his country at the Battle of the Bulge. Ann graduated from Watsonville Class of 1948. After high school, Ann worked at both Pajaro Valley and Golden State bakeries.
...
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Kazuo Kikuchi
February 1, 1928 - April 16, 2013
Kazuo Kikuchi passed away at his home in Watsonville, CA on April 16, 2013 at the age of 85. He was predeceased by his father Ikuji Kikuchi and his mother Shimeno Aikawa. Kazuo is survived by his loving wife, Shizuko of 58 years.
Kazuo is lovingly remembered by his sons, John Kikuchi (Carolyn Jones) of San Rafael and David Kikuchi (Priscilla Partridge) of Watsonville, and grandchildren Tamiko,...
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Takeru Okamoto
January 14, 1930 - April 14, 2013
Takeru Okamoto of Castroville, CA passed away peacefully Sunday, April 14, 2013 at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital following a stroke.
He was born January 14, 1930 in Kagoshima, Japan, the youngest child of Shinkichi and Oto Okamoto. In 1955, Takeru immigrated to the United States, first to Visalia, CA, then to Los Angeles where he worked as a gardener. He married Itsuko Hamada in 1958 and...
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Clementina Parra Daniel
April 7, 2013
Clementina Parra Daniel, age 50 of Watsonville, CA entered into rest April 7, 2013 at her home surrounded by family.
Survivors include her son Edgar Ruelas of Watsonville, brothers and sisters: Guadalupe Daniel Parra,
Arturo Daniel, Cruz Daniel, Ruben P. Daniel, Ignacio P. Daniel and Santos Daniel, many nieces and nephews and other family members.
She loved listening to music, family...
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Gabriel Murguia Avila
April 7, 2006 - April 6, 2013
Gabriel Murguia Avila at the age of 6 was granted his angel wings on April 6, 2013, following a courageous battle with Leukemia at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in Palo Alto, CA.
Gabriel was born on April 7, 2006 in Watsonville, CA. He was a loving, smart, energetic and happy boy who stole everyone's heart when he stormed in a room. He loved running and jumping everywhere including inside...
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Anthony "Tony" Graham
March 21, 1955 - April 5, 2013
Anthony (Tony) David Graham was born March 21st, 1955 in Layfette, Indiana. Tony passed away on Friday April 5th, 2013 after a spirited and courageous battle against prostate cancer. He was surrounded by friends and family in his passing.
Tony grew up in Los Angeles, California where he met his beautiful wife Cindy. They were married in 1983, and in 1990 settled in Aptos, California with...
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Vincent Martinez
January 19, 1984 - April 4, 2013
Vincent Martinez was born on January 19, 1984. He was tragically taken on April 4, 2013 in a car accident. He was a son, a brother, a cousin, a nephew, and a friend. He is survived by his parents, Juan and Rachel Martinez, along with his sister and brother, Sonia and David Martinez and his niece Bella Star. He will forever be remembered by those who knew and loved him. He has countless relatives...
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Shirley Bermio
March 31, 2013
Shirley Bermio – March 31, 2013
Passed away peacefully at the age of 76 surrounded by her loving family. She is survived by her only son John Bermio Jr., daughters Lydia Gonzalez, Pacita Bermio, Marie Henderson, & Debbie Villarreal also grandson Travis J. Bermio along with numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her grandsons TJ Antrez of Az and TSgt. Jesse Celestino of the U.S. Air...
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David Williams
September 11, 1942 - March 25, 2013
David Williams
Watsonville native, beloved husband, Father and friend David Williams passed away suddenly on March 25 after a hard fought battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his loving family. David was born September 11, 1942 to Harold and Mary Williams. He attended Moreland Notre Dame and continued on to Mora Central High School. He took great pride as a young man being in the choir and...
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Howard Haruto Tao
January 30, 1925 - March 21, 2013
Howard Haruto Tao passed away peacefully at the age of 88, surrounded by his loving family on March 21, 2013 following a short illness. He was born in Watsonville, California on January 30, 1925 to Keitaro and Takeyo Tao. He grew up in San Jose until the outbreak of World War II. Soon after, the family relocated to Tremonton, Utah, where he graduated from Bear River High School in 1944. Howard...
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Frank M. Enomoto
February 1, 1909 - March 20, 2013
Frank M. Enomoto died peacefully on March 20, 2013 at the age of 104. He was born in San Francisco, CA to Tatsutaro and Osuji Enomoto on February 1, 1909. He was the eldest of four children and attended schools in Watsonville. Frank, his mother and siblings were relocated to Poston AZ during World War II. After a few years the family relocated to Denver, CO. It was there that he met and...
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Lemuel A. Abenoja
December 6, 1938 - March 14, 2013
Lemuel A. Abenoja, husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle to numerous nephews and nieces, passed away suddenly on Thursday morning, March 14, 2013. "Willie or Lem" as he was known to many, was born on Dec. 6, 1938 to Exequiel & Estefania Abenoja in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. Lemuel was the youngest among
11 siblings.
He attended the University of the Philippines Los Baños...
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Peggy J. Nunes
March 13, 2013
Peggy J. Nunes, 80 years old, passed away on March 13, 2013 in Los Banos, CA. Peggy was born on March 11, 1933 in El Centro, CA. to Orrin and Lora Wagoner.
Peggy grew up in Watsonville, CA. Peggy graduated from Watsonville High School in 1950. After high school she attended Hartnell College in Salinas, CA. where she excelled in shorthand and typing, she received a degree in business. Peggy began...
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June M. Lacy
January 13, 1945 - March 8, 2013
June M. Lacy, longtime resident of Royal Oaks, CA passed away on March 8, 2013, at the age of 68. June was born to Jack and Katherine Fleming on January 13, 1945. She was raised in El Cerrito and graduated from El Cerrito High in 1962. She graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Communications from the University of San Francisco. After graduation she worked in telecommunications for several...
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Michael Anthony Villegas
March 8, 2013
Michael Anthony Villegas went home to be with the Lord on Friday, March 8, 2013. He was 45.
Michael loves his family. He is a Dallas Cowboys fan and he enjoyed taking his grandma out for walks. He is looking forward to waking her down the streets of gold!
Michael is temporarily separated from his parents, Gloria and Gary Valenzuela; his 2 daughters, Arissa and Justine and their mother Alma; his...
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Richard "Dick" W. Kessell
March 8, 2013
Richard W. Kessell, beloved husband, father and friend, passed away March 8, 2013. Richard, known as "Dick" to his family and friends, lived a long and fruitful life, full of laughter and joy. Dick had a great sense of humor and was loved and respected by all who knew him as a man of integrity, dedicated to his work, passionate for sports, and who loved his family.
Born April 3, 1931, in Oakland...
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Helen R. Mize
September 22, 1921 - March 8, 2013
Helen R. Mize passed away peacefully on March 8, 2013 at the age of 91. She leaves her son Robert and daughter Carol; four grandchildren: Janette, Robert, Jr., Michelle, and James; and nine great grandchildren. Janette's daughters: Amber and Ashley; Robert, Jr.'s daughters: Brianna and Leilani; Michelle's children: Cheyne, Frankie, Jeremy and Victoria. Her husband James Mize passed away in 1970....
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Ruben B. Romero
March 7, 2013
Ruben B. Romero age 88 of Watsonville, passed away March 7, 2013 at home with his family around him.
Survivors include his wife Julia Romero; children Ramon Romero, Rosa Velasquez, Esther Romero and Robert Romero, 15 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild and a brother Carlos Romero. Ruben was a foreman for Ryder and Sons.
Viewing and rosary will be Thursday...
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William "Willie" Serpa
March 5, 2013
William (Willie) Serpa Jr. of Watsonville, passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on March 5 at the age of 86. Willie was born in Watsonville where he remained a resident all his life. He was most well known for his years in the local grocery industry at Heights Market and Lamberts Market. During retirement when not traveling the world with his wife and family, he could be found at a...
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Lois Benson Lee
June 16, 1925 - March 4, 2013
Lois Benson Lee, 87 of Freedom, Ca. died on Monday, March 4, 2013
She was born June 16, 1925 in Parowan, Utah and moved to California shortly after marrying in 1945. Lois worked in Watsonville for many years, first at Montgomery Ward Retail and then as an administrative secretary for Rosewall & Sons Inc. She volunteered her time at Watsonville Community hospital as a Service League member and...
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Ruth (Emma Ruth Queen) Carnes
March 3, 2013
Ruth Carnes (Emma Ruth Queen) passed away on Sunday March 3, 2013 in Watsonville, CA at the age of 85. She was born in Loving, OK and moved to Watsonville in 1945. Ruth was an entrepreneur ahead of her time, starting a trucking company in Watsonville in the late 1940s, and a second Trucking Company, "Little Choctaw Trucking", in 1975, also in Watsonville. In the 1960s and 70s, Ruth was...
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Dr. Donald Kay Pine, M.D.
January 5, 1927 - March 1, 2013
Dr. Donald Kay Pine, M.D. passed away on Friday, March 1, 2013 in Watsonville, California.
Dr. Pine was born and grew up in Chicago. He graduated from high school at 16 to pursue his dream of becoming a physician. He attended numerous colleges on the G.I. bill including Stanford, Virginia Military Institute, Purdue, and George Washington University, where he received his M.D. It was during his...
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Felipe Reyes-Adan
February 28, 2013
Felipe Reyes-Adan, 20 yrs. old, of Watsonville Ca passed away on February 28, 2013.
The funeral service will be held on Sunday March, 10 2013 at Ave Maria Memorial Chapel, 609 Main St., Watsonville at 4pm. Mass will be held on Monday March, 10, 2013 at 10 AM at St. Patrick's Church and burial will follow at Valley Public Cemetery.
Felipe Reyes-Adan was born in Watsonville, CA on March, 3 1992....
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Mary Tomoye Meifu
August 1, 2013 - February 24, 2013
Mary Tomoye Meifu passed away peacefully at a convalescent hospital on February 24, 2013. She was born in Hollister to Chica and Toichi Nitta on August 1, 1924. She was the eighth of nine children and attended schools in Watsonville until she was relocated to a camp in Poston, Arizona during World War II. When the war was over, she returned to Watsonville where she met Katsumi Meifu and...
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Ray Will Corbly
February 22, 2013
Ray Will Corbly
Born June 1 1919 Died February 22, 2013
Ray began his life in Jacksonville, Oregon, in his early years he moved often with his family to different logging locations within the states of Oregon and Washington. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles Corbly; his mother, Ethel Corbly both of Watsonville, sisters, Joy Latham, Marysville, CA and Velda Dillon,...
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Antanacia Ruiz Fragozo
February 21, 2013
Antanacia Ruiz Fragozo, age 83 of Watsonville, passed away Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013.
She was preceded in death by her husband Julian Gonzalez. Survivors include her children Maria Antonia Castro, Silvestre Gonzalez, Rafaela Espinola, Victoria Gomez, Julian Gonzalez, Jovita Hernandez, Rosa Maria Baldivia, Jose Guadalupe Gonzalez, Esblinda Guzman and Cielpo Minerva Beltran and a brother Francisco...
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Edward S. "Lalo" Mateo
February 12, 2013
Edward S."Lalo" Mateo
On Tuesday, February 12th, 2013, Edward S. Mateo passed away unexpectedly at the age of 56.
Mr. Mateo leaves behind loving children Eddie and Crystal of Watsonville, his brothers Louie of Jamestown and Lionel of Washington state, as well as his lifetime partner Vicky Barcelo of Watsonville.
Born January 27th, 1957, Edward was a lifelong resident of Watsonville. He...
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Petra "Tita" Hernandez
January 10, 1934 - February 8, 2013
Petra Hernandez, also lovingly well known, and referred to as "Tita", was a wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, and great grandmother who passed away on Friday February 8 after a long battle with a terminal illness. She was preceded in death by her fourth child Lourdes Sanchez. She is survived by her husband Vicente Hernandez of 63 years and her children Rodolfo, Juana, Rosa, Margaret,...
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Jeri A. Tanner
February 7, 2013
Jeri A. Tanner, a loving mother and selfless giver, passed away unexpectedly on February 7th in her home. Born and raised in Watsonville, Jeri was a graduate of Watsonville High and remained in the community as a bookkeeper. She leaves behind her daughter, Jennifer, and dog Sophie. Jeri enjoyed gardening, painting, and spending any free time with her best friend- her daughter. The loss of Jeri...
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Nellie May Stark
July 19, 1914 - February 6, 2013
Nellie May Stark, 98, resident of Watsonville, safe in the arms of Jesus, Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at Pacific Coast Manor in Capitola, CA. A native of Clearwater, ID born on July 9, 1914 to Robert C. and Emma Taylor.
Wife of the late Lester Stark and sister of the late John A. Brown and Charlotte Tate. Nellie was an active member of the Four Corners Church and the Women's Auxiliary of the...
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Virginia Lomeli
February 2, 2013
Virginia V. Lomeli
Peacefully at rest on Saturday, February 2, 2013 at Stanford Medical Center. A native of San Pedro Tesistan Jalisco, born December 14, 1943, she was a devoted homemaker.
She is survived by her husband, Adan Lomeli; children, Adan Jr., Virginia and Pedro Lomeli; 3 grandchildren; mother, Maria Dolores Paz; brothers, Manuel Valencia, the late Jose Luis Valencia and Francisco...
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Donald Howard Armstrong
January 19, 2013
Donald 'Howard' Armstrong
Donald "Howard" Armstrong of Santa Cruz died in Watsonville on Saturday, January 19, 2013 following a long illness. He was 75.
A native of Austin, Texas, Mr. Armstrong faithfully served in the US Air Force as a Radar Systems Technician. He worked at the recycling center in Freedom for many years. Following his retirement he attended Carbrillo College,...
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Harry L. Starbuck
January 18, 2013
Rev. Dr. Harry L. Starbuck made a peaceful and joyous transition to heaven Jan. 18, 2013, surrounded by family. He was 89 years young and is survived by his beloved wife of 29 years , Lollie, brother Frank of Michigan, sister Helen of Florida, son Ed and wife Cindy of Rhode Island, son Jeff of New Jersey, and Lollie's 4 children, Bill, Laurel, Marilyn and Susan. Together they have 13...
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Barbara Kikuko Wada
October 8, 1934 - January 18, 2013
Barbara Kikuko Wada peacefully passed away at home on January 18, 2013 at the age of 78. A native and resident of Watsonville.
Barbara is survived by her devoted and loving husband of almost 59 years, Ted. Survivors also include her children; Mitchell of Mtn. View; Norman (Traci) of San Francisco; Lori (Derek) Etow of Aptos; and grandson Sean Etow. Barbara's surviving siblings are Ruth...
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Josephine Casillas
April 24, 1930 - January 11, 2013
Josephine Casillas passed away on Friday January 11, 2013 surrounded by her family. She was 82.
Born in Santa Barbara, CA April 24, 1930 to Leonardo and Ramona (Padilla) Lopez. Throughout her childhood her family lived everywhere from Texas to Mexico, until they moved to Watsonville, CA. Upon marriage, she and her husband Panfilo, of 56 years, settled in Aromas, CA to raise their two...
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Sebastian Edward Hernandez
October 20, 1968 - January 10, 2013
Sebastian Edward Hernandez of Watsonville died on Thursday, January 10, 2013. He was 45.
He is survived by his mother, Juana Valdez Hernandez of Watsonville; son, Daniel Hernandez of Madera; sisters, Geneva Blake of Oregon, Connie Moran of Watsonville, Maria Gass of Iowa, Stella Rubalcava of Watsonville, Annie Hernandez of Orange, Linda Lara of Sunnyvale and Corina Hernandez of Norwalk;...
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Ave Maria Memorial Chapel
609 Main Street
Watsonville,
CA
95076
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FAX: (831) 724-4967
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