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Alfred ‘Al’ DeFrancesco
Alfred ‘Al’ DeFrancesco died Saturday, Oct. 16, 2004, at the age of 64.
Al was born and raised in Gilroy. He graduated from Gilroy High School in 1959. He started farming at a young age in the Gilroy area and went on to agricultural trucking in 1960 with his uncle, Joe Filice.
Later he partnered with his dad and brother in DeFrancesco & Sons Inc. food dehydrator plant in Firebaugh. Along with his son-in-law, Chris Eaton he owned and operated Tri-County Transport in 1999.
His latest project was the Village Green Senior Community, Gilroy. Al was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Thursday Night Poker Club, Gilroy Elks, Ranchero Vaquero’s of Santa Inez Valley, Italian Catholic Federation and the Vagabums-camping club. He was a past member of the Sportsman Chef. Al enjoyed hunting, fishing and hanging out with his grandsons and friends.
He was the beloved husband of 44 years to Dolores DeFrancesco of Gilroy; dear father of Mia Eaton and her husband Chris of Gilroy; loving Papa Nono of Al, Brent and Tyler Eaton of Gilroy; dear son of Pauline DeFrancesco of Firebaugh and the late Mario DeFrancesco Sr.; brother of Mario DeFrancesco Jr. and his wife Carolyn of Firebaugh and Louise Lindeleaf and her husband Bob of Snelling; brother-in-law of Arnie Kaufman and his wife Angelika of Manteca and Beverly McManus and her late husband Dennis; nephew of Judy Filice and Emma Filice, both of Gilroy; uncle of Michelle Cardella, Frank, Mario III, Michael and Christopher DeFrancesco, Mary Horton, Annie Leidig, Jeff, Brett and Jon Kaufman and Sergi, Toni Lindeleaf and Robin Watenpaugh. He also is survived by many cousins and friends.
Vigil takes place at 7pm on Wednesday, Oct. 20, at St. Mary’s Church. Elks Services take place at 9:15am on Thursday, Oct. 21, at Habing Family Funeral Home. Funeral Mass follows at 10am at St. Mary’s Church. Entombment follows.
The family asks that any donations be made to St. Mary’s School.
Thomas A. Reis
Thomas A. Reis died Oct. 11, 2004, at his home in Gilroy.
Tom joined the Marine Corps and was on the way to Pearl Harbor when it was attacked on Dec. 7, 1941. Later on he became a bus driver for Greyhound and retired after 35 years. He then spent the next few years commercial fishing. He was a Mason for more than 45 years. He will be missed by all.
He is survived by his loving wife of 32 years, Dora Reis; stepchildren Richard Risinger and his wife Dora of Gilroy, Dixie Booher and her husband David of San Juan Bautista, Linda Gonzales and her husband George of Gilroy, and Mari Vaden and her husband Ray.
He was preceded in death by his stepson Max Risinger.
At Tom’s request, no services will be held.
Arrangements were under the direction of Habing Family Funeral Home.
Winona Stratford
Winona Stratford, known as Sonny to her many friends, died Sunday, Oct. 17, 2004, in San Jose.
Mrs. Stratford was educated in Massachusetts, and entered the Army in World War II as a tech. sergeant. Upon release she entered the Boston School of Fine Arts for one and one-half years. She came to the Bay Area in 1947. She traveled all over California with her two children. She kept many friends in Morgan Hill and Gilroy and retired in 1994. Sonny enjoyed bingo, tops and her family. She also enjoyed all her students at Britton Middle School where she was employed as a yard duty and teacher’s aide for 24 years.
She was the wife of the late Ernest Stratford. Both lived in Morgan Hill for the last 40 years. Sonny Stratford was the last remaining member of 14 brothers and sisters.
She is survived by a daughter, Susan Stratford of Morgan Hill; son, Roy Stratford of Brentwood; grandchildren Heather, Sarah, Christopher and Amy Stratford of Brentwood; daughter-in-law Gloria Stratford; and many nieces and nephews in her home state of Massachusetts.
A graveside service took place Friday, Oct. 22, at Mount Hope Cemetery
under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any contributions be made to the heart or diabetes society.
Patrick A. Jones
Patrick A. Jones died Oct. 14, 2004, after losing a battle to cancer.
He was a strong, kind, much-loved husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend to many. He enjoyed spending time with his family, reading, baking, offering a helping hand to anyone in need, and looked forward to yearly cruises. Patrick was a man who loved deeply. He will remain in our hearts every minute of every day.
Patrick was a loving husband, best friend and soul mate to Lori and devoted father to Patrick and Joshua. He was cherished by his parents Lauretta and Vincent, sisters Pat Vanacore (Joe), Cheryl Ligotino, nieces, nephew, the Baker family and Trixie.
Private services were under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home.
Mary Brooker
Mary Brooker died Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2004, at a nursing facility in Morgan Hill. She was 77.
Mrs. Brooker, a native of Victorville, lived in San Martin for nearly 60 years.
A retired cannery worker and homemaker, she was an active member of the Native Daughters of the Golden West, the Filipino-American Senior group, the Gilroy Senior Center and a frequent volunteer at San Martin/Gwinn School.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George Brooker.
She is survived by her children Georgette Brooker of San Martin, Theodore “Ted” Brooker of Gilroy, Valerie Brooker of Morgan Hill and George “Alvie” Brooker of San Martin. Her siblings include Delores Loya (twin sister) of Downey and Martin Martinez of Fairbanks, Ark. Also surviving are grandchildren Frank Aguilar, Emily Aguilar, Melissa Fields, Anthony, John and Sabrina Brooker; three great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation takes place from 4-6pm on Sunday, Oct. 24, at Johnson’s Funeral Home, Vigil Service follows at 6pm. Funeral Mass takes place at 11am Monday, Oct. 25, at St. Catherine’s Church followed by a burial service at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Jeremiah Baeza
Jeremiah Baeza, a 16-year-old junior at Live Oak High School, died Oct. 17, 2004, while riding at Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area in San Benito County.
Jeremy was an avid motocross racer and raced locally and throughout the Central Valley.
He touched the hearts of many people in the racing community and fellow students. Everyone who knew him will remember his #777 and the smile that went with it.
He is the beloved son of Stephen and Veronica Casey of San Martin and Alfred Baeza of Fresno; and cherished brother of Joshua and Jasmine of San Martin and Rosie and Juanita of Fresno; and He is deeply loved by his supportive grandparents Evelyn Duarte of Fresno, Mike Casey of San Jose and George and Rosemary Baeza of Fresno. He also is survived by his great-grandmother Jessie Quintanilla and many loving aunts, uncles and cousins.
Funeral services were Thursday, Oct. 21, under the direction of Oak Hill Funeral Home of San Jose.
Guillermo R. Gonzales
Guillermo R. Gonzales, 72, died Nov. 1, 2004, in Gilroy.
Mr. Gonzales was an Air Force Veteran who served in the Korean War. He was an avid boxing and baseball fan and also loved to hunt, he coached all of his kids in Little League and was a boxer himself while in the Air Force. He was the past president of the Los Amigos Lions Club of San Jose, and also loved to hunt. Mr. Gonzales was a member of St. Mary’s Church in Gilroy and a retired sheet metal worker and member of the Sheet Metal Workers Union Local 104 for more than 35 years.
Mr. Gonzales is survived by his wife, Guillermina Gonzales, of Gilroy; children David and wife Annette Guevara, Bob and wife Terry Gonzales, both of San Jose, Bill and wife Karen Gonzales of Madera, Marlene and Sam Juarez of Gilroy, Matthew and wife Michelle Gonzales of Morgan Hill, Virginia Valenzuela of Hollister, Martha Escobedo and Jose Escobedo, both of Gilroy, Sergio Escobedo of Modesto and Mayo Escobedo of Nevada; siblings Rosie Esparza of Nevada, Albert Gonzales of Gilroy, Mike Gonzales, Nellie Esquival, Emma Chavez, Rachel Escamilla, Mary Rivera and Della Duran, all of San Jose, Jesus Gonzales of Madera and Gloria Gonzales of Texas; and 25 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his sister Lu Stribling.
Funeral Mass was Saturday, Nov. 6, followed by burial at St. Mary's Cemetery, Gilroy.
Services were under the direction of Habing Family Funeral Home.
