Obituaries for March 1, 2005

Rita A. Mommi

July 14, 1938 – Feb. 26, 2005

Longtime Sonora resident Rita A. Mommi died Saturday at her home after a long battle with cancer. She was 66.

She was born in Livorno, Italy, and came to the United States from Italy in 1948. She graduated from Sonora High School in 1956 and had lived in Sonora for 57 years.

She was a dedicated employee for the Holman family, working at the Tuolumne Foundry for 10 years and at Mundorf's as the head bookkeeper for 28 years, her family added.

Her family said she was a loving and devoted daughter who cared for both her parents until the time of their death.

She was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church. She loved cooking, working in her yard, walking and, most of all, taking care of her large family, her family added. She de-voted her life to her family and friends, they said.

She is survived by her sisters and a brother-in-law, Maria Murray of Boise, Idaho, and Sandra and Lee Stewart of Sonora; a brother and sister-in-law, Adriano and Cynthia Mommi of Sonora; nieces, Annette Brown, Michelle Duvall and Yvette Bartling, all of Boise, Daniella Smith of Bakersfield, Nicole Mommi of Roseville, Katrina Mommi of Turlock and Kristen Russell of Sonora; a nephew, David Joslin of Sonora; and numerous great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her longtime companion, Dan Nice; and her father, Antonio Mommi, in 1963 and her mother, Lucy Mommi, in 1996.

Visitation is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow at Heuton Memorial Chapel. A vigil will follow and is scheduled for 6 p.m. tomorrow at the chapel. A funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church.

Heuton Memorial Chapel is handling arrangements.

Norman

William Garrett

April 23, 1917 – Feb. 23, 2005

Longtime Greeley Hill resident Norman William Garrett died Wednesday at a Sonora hospital. He was 87.

He was born in Jacksonville, Ore., and was the fifth of six children born to Tobe and Mabel Garrett.

His family said that he and his family loved music and each of the children in the family learned to play an instrument without the benefit of a lesson.

He joined the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II and served in the South Pacific. He returned home to Santa Ana where he began a 17-year career as a fireman. In 1958, after many vacations spent camping and fishing at Bagby on the Merced River, he moved to Mariposa County where he took a job as deputy sheriff. He later became the undersheriff and was elected sheriff of Mariposa County in 1966. He had lived in Greeley Hill since 1980.

His family said he retired to the place he loved in Greeley Hill, which was an old apple orchard and farmhouse called "Apple Glen." He spent many hours there tending his garden and caring for the home he shared with his wife, his family added.

He was a lifetime member of the Thom Jenkins Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 9454 and Sonora Elks Lodge BPOE No. 1587 for 22 years.

He was known for his great sense of humor and love of practical jokes, his family added, and he was greatly loved by his family.

Mr. Garrett is survived by his wife of 32 years, Alberta (Jeffery) Garrett of Greeley Hill; a daughter and son-in-law, Nanci and Jack Werner of Placerville; granddaughters and their husbands, Jennifer and Michael Atteridge of Salinas and Jamie and Timothy Cockrell of Placerville; and four great-grandchildren, Clair and Jackson Cockrell and Mason and Quinn Atteridge.

At his request, no services are scheduled.

Terzich and Wilson Funeral Home handled arrangements.

Raymond Alphious Heltzel

April 18, 1909 – Feb. 24, 2005

Longtime Sonora resident Raymond Alphious Heltzel died Thursday at a Sonora hospital. He was 95.

He was born in Vesta, Neb., and had lived in Sonora since 1972. He worked as a mechanic for C&H Sugar in the Bay Area for 26 years. He served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945.

His family said he loved gardening, traveling, reading and walking.

Mr. Heltzel is survived by his wife, Inez Heltzel of Sonora; a son, Lloyd Heltzel of Vallejo; a niece, Jean Kahle of Lincoln, Neb.; and a nephew, Marvin Robertson of Yellville, Ark.

He was preceded in death by sons Charles and Dale Heltzel.

At his request, no services are scheduled.

Terzich and Wilson Funeral Home handled arrangements.

Archie

Louis Olson

Oct. 29, 1919 – Feb. 19, 2005

Longtime Greeley Hill resident Archie Louis Olson died Feb. 19 at his home. He was 85.

He was born in La Crosse, Wis., and grew up in St. Paul, Minn. He moved to California after he graduated from high school. He served in the U.S. Marines from 1937 to 1945. He sold modular homes and worked as a cabinet contractor in Southern California.

He retired and moved to Greeley Hill in 1979, where he continued to work in the cabinet business. He was a life member of Thom Jenkins Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 9454.

His family said he enjoyed woodworking.

Mr. Olson is survived by his son, Thomas Olson of Greeley Hill; his mother, Marjorie Vick of Greeley Hill; a sister, Lorna Bausch of Santa Clarita, Los Angeles County; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Adelaide Olson; and a son, Jim Olson.

A memorial service is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall in Coulterville. Burial is scheduled to follow at Dudley Cemetery.

Terzich and Wilson Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Barbara

Jane Ward

Jan. 26, 1921 – Feb. 24, 2005

Jamestown resident Barbara Jane Ward died Thursday at her home. She was 84.

She was born in San Francisco and had lived in the Sonora area for 15 years, most recently in Jamestown. She worked as a secretary for a packing company in San Francisco for 26 years.

She was a member of the Women's Auxiliary of the Crystal Falls Volunteer Fire Department, Sierra Foothills Women's Club, Humane Society of Tuolumne County, All Saints Ladies Guild and All Saints Catholic Church.

Her family said she enjoyed playing cards.

She is survived by her numerous nieces and nephews including a niece, Janet Baker and her husband, Charles, of Tuolumne; and a cousin, Ruth Segali of Camp Connell.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James Ward, in 1999.

Visitation is scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. today at Terzich and Wilson Funeral Home. A graveside service is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. tomorrow at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Gustine, Merced County.

Donations can be made to a favorite charity.

Terzich and Wilson Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Violet Lesser

March 13, 1921 – Feb. 25, 2005

Soulsbyville resident Violet Lesser died Friday at her home. She was 83.

She was born in Fort Smith, Ark. She had lived in Soulsbyville for 14 years and was a homemaker most of her life.

Her family said she loved arts and crafts, bead work, gardening and having her family and dog, Gizmo, around her.

She is survived by her son, Ken Lesser of Soulsbyville; daughters, Pamela Lesser of Jamestown and Shirlene K. Helzer of New Mexico; a brother, Clem Dufour of Colorado; sisters, Myrna Kilgore of Salem, Ore., and Zee Smith of Modesto; seven granddaughters; a grandson; 16 great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.

A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday at Terzich and Wilson Funeral Home.

Donations can be made to a favorite charity.

Terzich and Wilson Funeral Home is handling arrangements.