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Lena Ida Defreese
Lena Ida Defreese died at her home on June 24, 2004.
Lena was born in Salinas on Oct. 11, 1910. She would have been 94. Her early childhood was spent in Felton and in 1919 she and her family moved to Gilroy where she attended local schools and worked for Filice and Perelli Cannery. In 1930 she married Charles Defreese and moved to San Luis Obisbo County where Charles worked for Southern Pacific Railroad until his retirement. At that time they moved back to Gilroy where Lena was a caretaker for her mother Zaira Maraccini until her death at the age of 102.
Lena is survived by her sister Mamie Sgheiza; niece Anita Sciutto (George); grandnieces and grandnephews Elizabeth Robinson (Rich), Dustin, Nicholas, Jennifer Freese (Alan), Amanda, Shelby, Jack and Darrell Sciutto; and relatives of her late husband Charles.
Mrs. Defreese will be buried with her husband at Gavilan Hills Memorial Park. At the request of Lena a private service will be held.
Ethel A. Telfer
Longtime resident and community business leader Ethel A. Telfer died June 26, 2004, at home after a lengthy illness. She was 84.
Ethel was born in St. Helena, on July 19, 1919. She was the daughter of the late William Steele and Charlotte Norling Steele. She moved to Morgan Hill as an infant with her family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest M. Telfer, and sisters Edna Mae Coates, Aimee Beckenhauer, and brother William Burns Steele Jr.
Ethel, along with her late husband Ernest Telfer, participated in and carried on local family businesses that date back to the early 1920s. Ernest was the son of the late John Telfer who was an early pioneer of Morgan Hill and mayor of Morgan Hill for 15 years. Ethel Telfer was the owner and broker of South County Realty established in the early 1970s with her husband. She pledged herself to professional service to the community in all phases of real estate and development. She was an advocate of beneficial, orderly community growth for South Santa Clara County. Prior to owning South County Realty, she owned and operated “Telfer’s Market” with her husband for more than 30 years.
Ethel attended Morgan Hill schools and graduated from Live Oak High School in 1936. She also attended San Jose State and Healds Business College. She was an avid equestrian rider and was selected as the Madrone Rodeo Queen in 1937. She was selected that same year as the Santa Clara County’s representative at the Salinas Rodeo.
Ethel was also a member of the Manzanita Chapter of Eastern Star and in the past had displayed a keen interest in local youth groups where she served many years as a 4-H leader. Through her son John Telfer she also took a strong interest in the local swim club and water polo membership functions and played an active part in membership and AAU officiating during Santa Clara Swim Club International events.
Ethel is survived by her daughters Joan K. Bardwell and son-in-law Milo of La Quinta, Bonnie A. Kregear and son-in-law Archie of Morgan Hill, son John E. Telfer and daughter-in-law Diane of Morgan Hill; sister Alyce Brown of Panorama City, Wash; and grandchildren Kimberly Mattraw of San Francisco, Erica Heinrich of Bellevue, Wash, Brett Bardwell of La Quinta; Matthew Telfer and Erik Telfer of Morgan Hill; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. July 6 at Johnson Funeral Home.
The family asks that any donations be made to Santa Teresa Hospice Care.
Robert A. Moulthrop
Robert Adair Moulthrop I, cherished husband, father, grandfather and friend, died Jan. 8, 2003, with his beloved wife, Margaret, and his son Robert II at his side. Robert was born Feb. 24, 1917, in Kansas City, Mo., but lived most of his adult life in Morgan Hill. He was 85 years old.
Robert earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Illinois and was invited to join Pi Tau Sigma, an honorary mechanical engineering fraternity. Later he earned a Master of Science degree at the California institute of Technology in Meteorology.
Robert was extremely proud to have been a World War II veteran, serving in the U.S. Army Aircorp as a First Lt. meteorologist from 1940-1945.
Robert was employed for 25 years at Lockheed Missiles and Space Division where he became a senior design specialist. He contributed to the Agena/Gemini Projects leading to placing U.S. astronauts on the moon, Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle, C5A Galaxy and specialized in the design of high-pressure vacuum chambers. Later, he became a registered professional mechanical engineer. Robert retired in 1985 and remained an active member of the Lockheed Martin Retiree’s Association.
Robert enjoyed woodworking, international style ballroom dancing and hunting. He traveled to many exotic destinations and participated in big game hunting in Africa and the Northwest Territories including Banks Island. He was a member of the SIRS, Safari Club International and life member of the NRA. He was also a member of the Keith Lodge #187 F&AM and the Gilroy Presbyterian Church.
Robert is survived by his wife of 50 years, Margaret Moulthrop; daughters Laura Marks of Moraga, and Jenie Machado of Riverside; son Dr. Robert Moulthrop II; and brother Roscoe Moulthrop of Bethany, Mo.; grandchildren, Timothy and Sarah Marks and Jordan and Michael Machado.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, at Gilroy Presbyterian Church.
Interment will follow at San Joaquin National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made to Gilroy Presbyterian Church Outreach Projects in his name.
Randy Parker
Randy Parker died on Dec. 26, 2002, in San Jose. He was 45.
Born in Gilroy and raised in Morgan Hill, Randy lived much of his adult life in the San Jose area. Randy was a very familiar youth in Morgan Hill, stopping and visiting several businesses and friends on his daily rounds. He attended P.A. Walsh Elementary School, Burnett Jr. High, and Live Oak High School, and completed his studies and graduated at Gavilan Jr. College in Gilroy.
Randy was once recognized for the achievement of top phone solicitor while volunteering for the Jerry Lewis Telethon from 1983-87. Randy also worked for the Hope Rehabilitation Center in San Jose., participated in the Special Olympics, and was a member of the I.O.O.F. Gilroy Lodge #154. For the last several years, Randy was an active visitor of the Grace Community Center in San Jose, sometimes assisting as their chef. Randy will be deeply missed by the very large circle of friends, whom he cherished, at the Grace Community Center. Randy lived everyday expressing his love and friendship for many people and will be deeply missed by his family.
He was the son of Rae Parker and Spencer Parker and his wife Wanita of Crescent City; brother of Jeff Parker and his wife Kathy of Gilroy, Robert Parker and his wife Kathy of San Jose Stephanie Olvera, Jennifer Giffin and her husband Charles of Trout Creak, Montana; nephew of Jean Pinard, Bobbie Ryan and her husband Hal, and Janet Detwiler and her husband Jogn of Woodburn, Oregon; uncle of Sara and Amy Parker of Gilroy, Nicholas Giffin of Trout Creek, Thomas Giffin and his wife Robyn, Holly Olvera of San Jose, and Melissa Parker of San Jose; and stepbrother of LaVeta Mcbee of Gilroy, Allon McBee of Ventura, and Bob Lynch of Middleton, Idaho. He also leaves several cousins.
The family wishes to thank everyone for their sympathy.
Takashi Shinagawa
Takashi “Jim” Shinagawa died Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003, at the age of 68 while suffering from an aneurysm.
Jim was a vital part of the Live Oak softball program from 1989-97 as an assistant varsity coach/hitting instructor. While coaching with his son, Jim helped lead Live Oak to its first Division 1 Central Coast Section championship in 1996. Jim was also part of two other CCS championship games in which Live Oak was the runner up (1990 and 1997).
Jim’s coaching career started in the mids 1980’s while coaching his daughter in the Spirit of Morgan Hill. From there, he helped form a summer travelling softball team that was designed to help prepare the girls for high school competition. Jim enjoyed bringing out the rich talent of the girls within Morgan Hill and seeing the smiles on their faces when they succeeded. Because of his dedication and hard work, many young female athletes have gone on to do well in high school and college.
Jim Shinagawa leaves behind his wife, Kazuko; son Kevin and daughter Alanna. He is the brother of sister Helen (Paul) Tokashiki of Torrance, sister Tsutayo (Takashi) Kamine of Sacramento, sister Mitsuye (Dick) Tani of Morgan Hill, sister Hiromi (Bob) Sakai of Gilroy. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and friends. He will be dearly missed.
Services will be at 4 p.m. today at San Jose Buddhist Church, 640 North Fifth St., under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home.
Frank C. Marchetti
Frank C. Marchetti of Morgan Hill died Jan. 11, 2003, at the age of 94.
A native of Gilroy, Frank was born in Gilroy and was a farmer in the area for many years. After retiring, he and his wife traveled throughout the United States before settling in San Martin. He was an avid sportsman. He will be missed dearly by his beloved wife, cousins and friends.
He is survived by wife of 71 years Mary Marchetti of Morgan Hill; cousins Henry Marchetti of Salinas, Mary Rocchi of San Jose and Rosie Mammini of San Martin.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Habing Family Funeral Home, Gilroy. Burial will follow at St. Mary Cemetery, Gilroy.
Lawrence L. Vasquez
Lawrence L. Vasquez died Jan. 11, 2003, in Gilroy. He was 80.
A native of Gilroy, he was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Disabled American Veterans.
He is survived by his loving wife Molly of Morgan Hill; children, Mollie (Jerry) Gauthier, Richard (Lisa) Vasquez, Nancy (Mark) Bernal, Irene (Bill) Minderler, David (Janice) Vasquez, Lillian (Maurice) Ouellette, Barbara (Noel) Villanueva and Steven Vasquez; grandchildren, Amber (Erik) Colandone, Nichole Gauthier, Trina Gauthier, Kimberlie (Ted) Reckas, Noell (Matt) Thompson, Richard Vasquez II, Aimee (Harjinder) Singh, Jennifer Vasquez, Brian (Leslie) Bernal, Angella Bernal, Troy (Tammy) Minderler, Jason Minderler, Maggie Minderler, Amber Minderler, Megan Vasquez, Melissa Vasquez, Matthew Vasquez, Alan Ouellette, Emiley Ouellette and Samantha Villanueva; great-grandchildren, Miryah Gauthier, Karolyn Minderler, Owen Minderler, Damien Vasquez, Alyna Vasquez, Joseph Vasquez, Alexandria Reckas, Nastasia Reckas, Veronica Marie Singh, Anthony Jacob Thompson and Serena Thompson; sister, Ruth Jacob; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.
Vigil Service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, at St. Catherine Church. Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 17, at St. Catherine Church.
Interment will be at San Joaquin National Cemetery, Gustine.
The family requests donations to the St. Catherine Church Stewardship Fund in the name of Lawrence Vasquez.
Arrangements were made by Johnson Funeral Home.
