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Manuel Vierra Silva – Dairy owner, animal control
officer
Manuel Silva died on November 29, 2008 on a hunting trip in
Oklahoma, at the age of 85.
Silva, known as Shorty or Pete, was born in Bolinas on March 29,
1923 to Antone and Mary Vierra Silva, and raised on the family
ranch until entering the Army in World War II, where he was
stationed in the Philippines.
He was married to Virginia Fossell Koenig of Petaluma from 1947
to 1974. Silva worked for feed and grain companies in Petaluma and
the Petaluma Co-Operative Creamery before starting his own dairy in
1954. He retired from the dairy in 1970, and became an animal
control officer for Sonoma County. He retired from animal control
in 1983. In 1974 he met and later married Patricia (Patti) Collins,
the mother of six children.
Silva leaves behind his wife of 33 years Patricia Silva of
Sebastopol; son Jim Silva; daughter Connie Barnett (the late Dr.
Barnett); six step-sons, Ross (Monica), Brian (LaQuienna), Kelly
(Shirley), Chris (Debbie), Lance (Kathy), and Damon Collins;
sisters Emily Sousa, Mary Curtis, and Rose Arsften; granddaughters
Sara Jane Barnett, and Nina Adams; grandsons Peter and Paul Silva;
numerous step-grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and
nephews. He was preceded in death by brothers Antone, John and
Joseph Silva and sisters Rita Logan, and Helen Crowder.
A Memorial Service to celebrate Shorty’s life will be held
Saturday Dec. 13, 10:30 a.m. at the Hessel Church, 5060 Hessel Ave,
Sebastopol. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the
American Heart Association.
Ed Doty – Sebastopol native, rancher
Contractor, rancher, craftsman and Sebastopol native Ed Doty
died on Nov. 20, 2008 in his adoptive home of Kauai at the age of
84. He was diagnosed with cancer in August. The middle child of
Esther and Archie Doty of Sebastopol, Doty grew up on Grandview
Road west of Sebastopol where he attended elementary school.
In 1944, Doty was in his senior year at Analy High School when
he received his draft notice. Shortly thereafter, he met and
married Ruth Penterman.
The couple moved to Sebastopol in 1946 and eventually started
his own company, Doty Construction. In 1968, Ed built the Redwood
Empire Ice Arena in Santa Rosa.
In 1973, he married Joyce Schulz. In 1982, the pair moved to
Kauai and eventually established Na Aina Kai Botanical Gardens, a
home garden that grew into a 240-acre nonprofit operation where
tours, retreats and celebrations have been held since 2000.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his younger brother
Roy, and is survived by his wife of 35 years; daughters Virginia
(Tom) Feickert and Jennifer (Ted) Stephenson, both of Medford, OR,
Becky (Bob) Gentry of Sebastopol, and Joyce (Bob) Wieck of Santa
Rosa; his sister, Barbara Schneider of Santa Rosa; 14 grandchildren
and many great-grandchildren. A memorial is planned for Saturday,
Dec. 20 at the Sebastopol Vet’s Building at 10 a.m.
Genevieve M. Smith – Leaves eight
great-grandchildren
Genevieve Smith was born July 28, 1912 and died at her home in
Forestville on Dec. 10, 2008.
She was preceded in death by her husband Ralph J. Smith, and
daughter Gail F. Jackson. Smith is survived by daughters and
sons-in-law Adrienne and Bud Fiske, Cathy and Jim Smith, and Carl
Jackson; grandchildren Niki Rainwater, John Fiske, Stephanie
Alladin, Michael Smith and eight great-grandchildren.
A gathering of friends and family will be held at a later date.
Memorial donations may be made to Palm Drive Hospital Auxiliary,
P.O. Box 1314, Sebastopol, CA 95473.
Edith Pieroni – Born and raised on Canyon
Road
Eda passed away peacefully on Dec. 15, 2008 at the age of
101.
She was preceded in death by her husband Charles Pieroni. Eda is
survived by her son Joe Pieroni, close friend Betty, her nephew and
nieces.
Eda was one of five children born and raised on Canyon Road in
Geyserville. After her marriage to Charlie, she moved to Dry Creek
Valley. Together they spent many years farming prunes and
grapes.
After Charlie’s death, Eda moved to Healdsburg to be closer to
town.
The family would like to thank the wonderful caregivers at
Cloverdale Healthcare Center. We appreciate their kindness and
thoughtfulness.
Private services will be held and arranged by Fred Young Funeral
Home in Cloverdale. Call 894-2540.
Joyce Sourjohn – Began career as a nurse in
Healdsburg
Joyce Sourjohn died peacefully surrounded by her loving
family.
Her career began as a CNA for Healdsburg Convalescent Hospital
then transferring to in-home care, retiring at age 62.
She is survived by her last remaining sibling, Opal Owens
(Charlie); her children, Judy Archer (Scott), Jerry (Barbara),
Betty Brooks (John), Jana Sarabia; 10 grandchildren; six
great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
There will be a memorial service at the Kingdom Hall of
Jehovah’s Witnesses, 2035 Petaluma Hill Road, Santa Rosa at 2 p.m.
on Saturday, Dec. 20.
Vivian Menicucci – Longtime Cloverdale
resident
Vivian Menicucci, longtime resident of Cloverdale, passed away
Dec. 10, 2008. Vivian is survived by her husband Albert of 64
years. Vivian is also survived by their three sons, Wayne (Janis),
Lynn, and Lee (Dawn) and grandchildren, Joe, Christina and
Jennifer. Albert and Vivian were married on Jan. 17, 1944. They
moved from Fort Bragg, CA, to Cloverdale in 1962. They purchased
Cloverdale Auto Parts in 1975, and still own it today. Vivian wrote
a column called “Thoughts and Things” for the Cloverdale Reveille
for many years. She was an activity director for Manzanita Manor
for 8 years. She participated in Toastmasters and won several
awards for her poetry and writings. Until just recently she was
writing columns for the “Upbeat Times.” Vivian loved music, writing
music, writing poetry and stories and most of all she loved the
animals. She was grandma to every child she met and friend to all.
She always had a smile for everyone she met, and a friendly story
to brighten your day. Vivian will be forever missed and always in
our hearts. A Rosary was recited at Fred Young Funeral Home in
Cloverdale on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 4 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be
celebrated at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Cloverdale, Thursday,
Dec. 18 at 10 a.m. Burial will be at St. Rose’s Memorial Cemetery
in Fort Bragg, CA, Friday, Dec. 19 at 11 a.m.