Obituaries
January 02, 2013
Obituaries
Hazel Hedgecoke
Hazel Hedgecoke was a beloved and generous wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother of five (Hazel, Deja, Andrez, Aariana, and Alice Rain). She spent her entire life doing for others and spent her career as a physiotherapist, concert pianist, piano teacher, and co-owner (with her husband) of RobHaze Kennels.
She was born in Alberta, Canada on July 29, 1921, where she says her father always said Old Chief watched over them. Some of her childhood favorite memories were of her pet crow and her horses.
Following residential school, she rode a day’s ride annually to rent her pony to tourists at Banff and Watertown and worked as a hotel switchboard operator. At 14 she was awarded a teaching degree in concert piano from the Royal Schools of London, and taught piano consistently until retiring in 1985.
Hazel was a WWII widow (Les MacLean), so (as was the custom during the war) she worked in the war factory (John Inglis War Factory, Toronto) in tool and dye, and later (when it was discovered she was a musician) as the factory’s disc jockey before being one of the first women and of the first physical therapists ever trained (McGill University).
Hazel met WWII veteran Robert Hedgecoke in San Diego in 1949, through his sister Lucy. They married November 22, 1950, settled in North Dakota working on the polio epidemic, and suffered the loss of three children before having two surviving daughters and a son.
Hazel suffered a chronically debilitating illness since 1959, yet continued to generously care for other people, to teach piano and volunteer, and to truly enjoy the people she loved. Close relatives include her siblings Bruce (D 3/1/2000) and Nancy (surviving sister) and her parents Sybil and Herb (who preceded her in death), her sister-in-law Mary Jane, her daughters Stephanie and Allison, grandsons Travis and Timothy Vaughan, two adopted grandchildren - Sara Presutto and Sam Dunbar, and her treasured great-grandchildren.
She joined St. Paul’s Church later in life, and was devoted to her friends in Rancho Santa Paula and St. Paul’s and to her favorite team the Los Angeles Dodgers. She spent her last weeks at Vista Cove, and crossed over on December 20t, 2012 and we all love her eternally.
Angela G. Hurtado-Diaz
Angela G. Hurtado-Diaz, age 81, of Santa Paula, California, entered into Eternal Peace on Monday, December 24, 2012. She was born on November 30,1931 to the late Angel Garcia and Dolores Arambula Vega.
Angela was a nurse tech for several years at Santa Paula Health Care. She then went on to become a teacher’s aide at Isbell Middle School. She retired years later from Santa Paula Unified School District.
For the past five years she was a housewife. Angela was married to Baltazar “Walter” Guadalupe Diaz. She and Walter loved to vacation in Las Vegas. She also loved to go camping at Royal Oaks Resort along the King’s River, and enjoyed her time spent with family.
She is preceded in death by her first husband Jess Hurtado; her two sons, Jesse Hurtado and Henry Hurtado; brother Ralph “ Lito” Prieto; and sister Magdalena “Nena” Pulido.
Angela is survived by her loving family: husband Baltazar “Walter” Diaz; children Cathy Caban, Linda Guiterrez, John (Rosie) Hurtado, Ted (Patty) Hurtado, and Tom (Mindy) Hurtado; and 15 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.
A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Wednesday, January 2, 2013 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 427 N. Oak Street in Santa Paula. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday, January 3, also at Our Lady. Committal and inurnment will be held at noon Friday, January 4, 2013 at Santa Paula Cemetery.
For map and directions to ceremony locations and to sign the family’s online guest book, share stories and post pictures, please visit our website: www.mysantapaulafuneralhome.com and click on Angela’s name located below “Recent Obituaries”.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Family Owned & Operated Robert Rey Garcia Jr. Funeral Svcs, Santa Paula. 805.229.7054.
Mary Joan Berry
Mary Joan Berry of Fillmore passed away peacefully in Ojai on Saturday, December 22, 2012 at the age of 78.
Mary began her life on September 23, 1934, in Springfield, IL, to proud parents, Maurice and Mary O’Leary McGuire. She attended local schools and graduated in 1952 from Sacred Heart-Griffin High School.
On October 31, 1953, in Springfield, IL, Mary married the love of her life, Gerald Thomas Berry. They settled in Decatur, IL, and started their family. While attending the 1963 Rose Bowl, on a two week vacation, they fell in love with California. Later, in 1971, an opportunity in California presented itself. Mary and Gerry joined Gerry’s cousin, Arthur Naylor and his family, and moved to Santa Paula with their four children. Gerry started working with Sully-Miller Contracting Company and Mary started her 20 year career as a bus driver for Head Start Preschool in Fillmore and Santa Paula.
Mary and Gerry enjoyed camping (they belonged to two RV clubs) and traveling throughout the country. Mary’s hobbies included gardening and entertaining family and friends.
Upon Gerry’s death (2007) Mary enjoyed traveling with her Red Hat Ladies and Circle of Friends groups. Many treasured friendships were made in both groups.
She attended all family celebrations and special occasions. During holidays, her home was always decorated and a delicious home cooked meal awaited any and all who came for a visit.
Mary will be deeply missed by all who knew her. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gerry; parents, Maurice and Mary McGuire; Sister, Ann; and brothers, Robert, Paul and Thomas.
Her spirit lives on through family: daughter and son-in-law, Mary Kathleen (Cathi) and Curt Smith of Ojai and their children Trisha, Robert, Jenny, Curtis, Scotty and Becky; son, Scott Thomas Berry of Santa Barbara and his daughter, Nicole; son and daughter-in-law, Robin Lyman and Nancy Berry of Glendale, AZ and their children, Kyle, Sara and Megan; son and daughter-in-law, Andrew McGuire and Karen Berry and daughter, Caitlin of Santa Paula; as well as many nieces and nephews from Springfield, Il., and a host of wonderful friends across the state and country.
The family would like to thank Assisted Home Hospice for all their caring help and support.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, January 3, 2013, at Saint Francis of Assisi Church in Fillmore at 10:30 a.m. A light reception will follow at the church. Inurnment will be later in the day at Santa Paula Cemetery.
Arrangements are in the care of Guardian Memorial Funeral Directors, A Heritage Life Tribute Center, (805) 483-1072.
Genevieve (Jean) Moore
Jean passed away at home on December 11, 2012. She was born in Bolivar, Missouri on February 4, 1927.
She is survived by her son Roger (Barbara) Polly, daughter Janice Hawkins, and sisters Shirley Meese and Sue Kell. She had numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Private service only in the Kern River Valley Cemetery.
