Obituaries for February 28, 2005

Edith Freitas

Oct. 8, 1916 – Feb. 23, 2005

Longtime Sonora resident Edith Freitas died Wednesday at a Sonora hospital. She was 88.

She was born in Denton, Texas, and had lived in Sonora for about 74 years. She was a homemaker and member of the Pythian Sisters. She and her husband, Frank Freitas, made bird houses after he retired from PG&E and she also made Raggedy Ann dolls.

She loved her family, especially her grandchildren, her family added, and she enjoyed gardening and flowers.

She is survived by her son, Don Freitas of Sonora; a daughter, Pat McAdams of Sonora; eight grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; one great-great granddaughter; a brother, Robert Sawyer of Niland, Imperial County; and sisters, Agnes Newcomb of Sacramento and June Bonshall of Oregon.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Freitas.

Services were held.

Terzich and Wilson Funeral Home handled arrangements.

James L. Rogers

June 18, 1926 – Feb. 24, 2005

Former Mother Lode Roundup Rodeo participant James L. Rogers died Thursday at a Modesto care home. He was 78.

He was born in Modesto. He was a farmer and cattle rancher in Patterson for many years. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He formerly owned Rite Price Liquors on Crows Landing Road in Modesto. He was a longtime member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

He was the grandson of West Side pioneers, Manuel Rogers, who came from the Azores Islands to Alameda in 1865, and moved to Grayson, now Patterson, in 1874, and Mary Marshall Noya who was born in San Lorenzo in 1867.

He was a championship team roper and calf roper and participated in the rodeo for many years.

Mr. Rogers is survived by a daughter, Dana Rogers of Tacoma, Wash.; a grandson, Shane Adams of Tacoma; a nephew, Dan Rogers of Modesto; nieces, Karen Rogers of Mount Shasta and Marsha Rogers of Scottsbluff, Neb.; and a sister-in-law, Barbara Rogers-Harvey of Sonora.

He was preceded in death by his twin brother, William S. Rogers.

A private graveside service is scheduled at Patterson District Cemetery. Burial will take place in the Rogers family plot.

Donations can be made to Community Hospice Inc., 601 McHenry Ave., Modesto, CA 95350.

Hillview Funeral Chapel in Patterson is handling arrangements.

Edna B.

Vanderwiel

Feb. 26, 1912 – Feb. 10, 2005

Columbia resident Edna B. Vanderwiel died Feb. 10 at a Sonora hospital. She was 92.

She was born and raised in Salt Lake City. She had six brothers and sisters. She graduated from Murray High School. She met her future husband, John C. Vanderwiel, in Salt Lake City. They were married Sept. 13, 1931, in Los Angeles. They had three sons while they lived in San Francisco and the Bay Area. They moved to Columbia in 1959.

She and her husband donated a Fourth of July sign to Columbia State Historic Park and they were generous contributors to the Tuolumne County community.

She and her husband attended art shows and Mother Lode Art Association meetings and enjoyed modern dance, folk dancing and square dancing together.

She enjoyed painting, sculpting, beading, knitting, gardening and nature. She also loved animals, and she and her husband adopted most of their dogs and cats from the Humane Society.

For the past two years, she lived at Tuolumne General Hospital Long-Term Care unit where she was known for her humor and pleasant personality, said her family members, who also called her the best mom, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great grandmother, relative and friend.

She is survived by numerous relatives.

She was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 65 years on July 24, 1996; and a son, Zorn Vanderwiel on May 31, 1999.

No services are scheduled and her ashes will be scattered at sea.

Donations can be made to Humane Society of Tuolumne County, P.O. Box 830, Jamestown, CA 95327; or Tuolumne General Hospital, Attn.: Long-Term Care, 101 Hospital Road, Sonora, CA 95370.

The Neptune Society of Central California in Modesto is handling arrangements.

Notices

ANGERMILLER — Dorothy Virginia Angermiller, 83, formerly of Jamestown died yesterday at a San Andreas hospital. Terzich and Wilson Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

BAKER — Douglas Richard Baker, 45, of Sonora died Friday at his home. Terzich and Wilson Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

BERWALD — Hilda Berwald, 76, former longtime Sonora resident died Wednesday at her Livermore home. The Neptune Society of Northern California in Stockton is handling arrangements.

LESSER — Violet Lesser, 83, of Soulsbyville died Friday at her home. Terzich and Wilson Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

MOMMI — Rita Mommi, 66, of Sonora died Saturday at her home. Heuton Memorial Chapel is handling arrangements.

SIMMONS — Kenyon Simmons, 50, formerly of Sonora, died at a Palo Alto home while visiting family. Heuton Memorial Chapel is handling arrangements.

THOMPSON — Winifred Thompson, 74, of Sonora died this morning at a Riverbank care home. Terzich and Wilson Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

WARD — Visitation for Barbara Jane Ward, 84, of Jamestown is scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. tomorrow at Terzich and Wilson Funeral Home. A graveside service is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Gustine. She died Thursday at her home. Terzich and Wilson Funeral Home is handling arrangements.