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John M. Mendonca – Dairy worker, rigger, native
Sebastopolian
John Mendonca died on Jan. 21, 2009 in Sebastopol at the age of
95.
Mendonca was a native of Sebastopol, and a member of St.
Sebastian’s Parish, Sebastopol Holy Ghost Society, and Mare Island
Rigger’s Club.
Mendonca was reared and educated in Sebastopol. At an early age,
he worked with his father on their dairy ranch and then Sleepy
Hollow Dairy. Following this, he worked at Mare Island as a rigger
for 30 years and finally at Larry’s Sanitary for 20 years.
He leaves behind his wife Virginia Mendonca of Sebastopol and
sister Isabelle Christensen. He was preceded in death by sisters
Minnie Anderson, Virginia Michelsen, Mary Pinador, Mabel Ottman,
Julia Myers, and brother George Mendonca. Mendonca is also survived
by several nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to your favorite charity. He
will be interred at Sebastopol Memorial Lawn.
Novella Darlene Robert – Retired secretary to Analy vice
principal
Novella Robert died Monday, Jan. 19 of ovarian cancer. She was
79.
Robert lived most of her life in Sebastopol where she went to
high school, raised three children and became involved in community
activities,
Robert was born in Long Beach, and moved to Sebastopol as a
teenager where she started at Analy High School as a junior.
That is where she met her future husband, Cliff Robert, who had
returned to school after serving in the U.S. Navy during World War
II.
Robert attended Santa Rosa Junior College, worked for PG&E
and then devoted herself to raising the couple’s three
children.
Later, Robert took a part-time job at the library at Analy High
School and then became secretary to the vice principal, retiring in
1988.
Her community involvement included Autumn Leaves, a senior group
in Sebastopol, the P.E.O. sisterhood, and Community Church of
Sebastopol.
In addition to her daughter Denelle Tognozzi of Sebastopol,
Robert is survived by another daughter, Rachele Robert of
McKinleyville; son, Larry Robert of Santa Rosa; sister, Beverly
Jennings of Modesto; five grandchildren and two
great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband in
1991.
A celebration of her life will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 8,
at the Community Church of Sebastopol, 1000 Gravenstein Highway
North.
Donations are requested to Sutter VNA Hospice, 1110 North Dutton
Ave., Santa Rosa.
Nellie Arnett – Attended Analy High 1918 –
1919
Nellie Arnett died on Jan. 15, 2009. Arnett was born in San
Francisco on Jan. 1, 1904 and moved as a young girl to Sebastopol
with her family to a farm on Ferguson Rd. She attended Analy High
School in 1918-1919, then Heald Business School in San Francisco.
She married Leonard Arnett in 1936 and shortly thereafter, they
moved to Las Vegas, NV where he became mayor. When his term ended
they returned with their children to Sebastopol. Arnett worked
alongside her husband in his butcher shop, grocery store, real
estate and insurance businesses. Upon their retirement she enjoyed
camping, fishing and hunting with him, shooting her first buck on
the rim of the Grand Canyon. Among her hobbies were knitting
sweaters for her family and cooking Scandinavian dishes she learned
from her mother. She was a member of the Sebastopol Methodist
Church for more than 60 years, serving on various committees. She
was a member of La Gayety, the Realtors Association, Eastern Star,
Christian Women’s Club, Bible Study Fellowship and the Sonoma
County Chorus. At 104 years of age she served as the Grand Marshal
of the Sebastopol Apple Blossom Parade. She was a woman of service.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard Arnett; her son
Ted Arnett; her parents Hilda and Olie Jensen; and her three
brothers and sister. She leaves four children, Rod, Nonie and Carol
Arnett and Lillian Sanchietti; nine grandchildren, 18 great-grand
children and 24 great-great-grandchildren.
She will be interred at Chapel of the Chimes Cemetery. A private
interment and memorial service will be held in her honor. In lieu
of flowers the family asks that monetary gifts be sent to the
Hessel Church Benevolent Fund, 5060 Hessel Avenue, Sebastopol, CA
95472.
Daniel Puentes – Longtime Healdsburg
resident
Daniel Puentes, a long-time Healdsburg resident, passed away
peacefully in his sleep on January 21, 2009. He was preceded in his
passing by Celia Puentes, his wife of 65 years, who left us in
December 2007, and his son Daniel Puentes Jr., who died in 1971.
Daniel is survived by eight children: Johanna (Bob) Quigley in
Jenner, Joe (Barbara) Puentes, in Ukiah, Gloria LeMay in Santa
Rosa, Rick Puentes in Santa Rosa, Terry (Dave) Forgeson in Santa
Rosa, Chris Puentes in Santa Rosa, Patty (John) Hoke in Santa Rosa,
and Mark Allen Puentes in Healdsburg. Daniel is also survived by 19
grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and two
great-great-grandchildren. Daniel was born on a working cattle and
horse ranch near Beeville, Texas, where he spent his childhood
breaking horses and raising cattle. When World War II occurred, he
went to work at a military shipping facility in Corpus Christi,
where he met his future wife, Celia. In 1960 the entire family
moved to Healdsburg to seek a better life, and new career and
educational opportunities. Daniel’s agricultural talents were soon
recognized and he was employed for years as a ranch manager in the
Healdsburg area. Upon retiring from the ranching business, Daniel
enjoyed an active retirement spent tending to his yard and the
various hybrid trees and other fruits he enjoyed growing. Daniel
could grow almost anything.  He was especially proud of the huge
avocado trees in his back yard that produced numerous avocados.
Many people came to buy the avocados, which Daniel would not sell
until you had been given a tour of the huge trees. Daniel also
enjoyed camping, and Easter family gatherings usually occurred at
Doran Beach, where trailers and tents marked the Puentes family
encampment.  He enjoyed family gatherings and would always welcome
the children and grandchildren of the family into his home and
yard. He will be greatly missed by his large extended family.
Friends are invited to attend a Rosary on Friday, January 30,
2009 at 7:00 p.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church, in Healdsburg. A
Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009
at the church. Interment will be at Oakmound Cemetery in Healdsburg
immediately following the Mass.
Marion Justine Randolph – Taught in Cloverdale Unified
School District
Marion Justine Randolph was welcomed into God’s arms on New
Year’s Day 2009 and reunited with her parents, Susan and Grover C.
McCoy.
Marion leaves behind her beloved husband of 56 years, Randy
Randolph, and her loving children David Randolph (wife Nancy),
Rebecca Fernandez (husband Leo), Janice Di Piero (husband Bill);
grandchildren Elizabeth, Jeff, Laura, John and Scott;
great-grandchildren Ahnna, Vann, Michael, William, Breanna,
Kaitlyn, Hailey, Kyle, Ryan, Hannah, Austin and Kaila.
Marion received her elementary school teaching credential from
San Jose State College. She met Randy in Mill Valley, CA, during
her first teaching position. He worked for the Lucas Valley Dairy
and delivered milk to her classroom.
In the summer of 1958, they moved to Cloverdale where Randy
opened the United Parcel Service in Cloverdale. Marion continued
her teaching in kindergarten and first grade in the Cloverdale
Unified School District for 31 years. Many of the students she
taught grew up and had children of their own, whom Marion also
taught. She was a wonderful teacher to many children. Even after
retiring, she continued to tutor students in town.
Marion had a true love for life and all that went with it. She
was an accomplished artist, very athletic, enjoyed bowling and
horseback riding, as well as music. For many years, she was an
active member of the Beta Sigma Phi sorority in Cloverdale. Her
love for animals was very well known by her family and friends, and
in later life, they became like her children. 
Marion was a joy to be around. She could light up a room just by
entering with her smile and personality. She gave from her heart
and will be missed by her family, friends, and all who knew
her.
Her family would like to thank her caregivers, Cindy and Nancy,
for being there for Marion during her end of life, loving her like
a mother, and seeing to her every need. They would also like to
thank the wonderful caring staff at Sutter/VNA Hospice who made her
comfortable during her end of life.
Friends are invited to a memorial service to celebrate her life
at the United Church of Cloverdale, 439 N. Cloverdale Blvd. on
Saturday, Jan. 31 at 1 p.m. Due to Marion’s love for animals,
donations can be given to Feline Rescue of Northern California,
Inc., P.O. Box 215, Cloverdale CA 95425, or to Sutter/VNA Hospice
at 1110A Dutton Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA, 95407, or to any charity of
your choice.
Stanley Darrill Smith – Born on the Dry Creek
Rancheria
Stanley Darrill Smith was born March of 1932 on the Dry Creek
Rancheria. He passed away at the age of 76. He left us far too
early but the enduring memories he left us with ensures that we
will never forget him.
Stan was born and raised in Healdsburg where he went to school
and graduated from Healdsburg High School. He continued on to
graduate from SRJC before serving in the Army during the Korean
War. He returned home and followed his father and brothers example
and made a successful career working at Mare Island Naval
Shipyard—retiring in 1986. His expertise as a pipe fitter and
inspector took him to ports of call across the country. On one of
these trips to Virginia he met his beautiful wife, Pansy.
Throughout his life Stan was an amazing athlete. He played
tennis in high school and loved horseback riding. But his true love
was golf. Stan traveled around California, Nevada, Germany, and
many other places playing in tournaments and most times winning
them. After he retired in 1986 Stan and Pansy moved to Hidden
Valley Lake where he could play golf on a daily basis.
Stan touched so many lives with his kindness, wit, competitive
nature, and his love of life. He leaves behind his wife Pansy,
daughter Linda and grandson Josh, his brother Doug Smith, sisters
Marcy DeLira, Kathleen Smith, and Nancy Napolitan; many nieces and
nephews who loved him and a beautiful group of friends in the
Hidden Valley Lake Community.
A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held Saturday,
Jan. 31 at 2 p.m. at Healdsburg Community Church, 1100 University
Street.