Obituaries

Mar 10, 2021

Antonio Edmond Hamel (Tony), age 93, of Gilroy and previously of San Jose, California, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on March 10, 2021, just 9 months after the loss of his beloved wife, Mary.

Tony was born in Berlin, New Hampshire on January 13, 1928 to Catholic French parents, and grew up the 5 th of...

Mar 9, 2021

Margarita Peña passed away peacefully in her sleep on the evening of March 9,2021. She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Miguel Peña. Caring and supportive father to Sylvia Peña, David Peña, and Samuel Peña. Preceded in death by her son Mike Peña. Loving grandfather to Amanda Graves, Michael Peña, Joseph Peña, Frances Peña, David...

Mar 6, 2021

Louis A. Yurek , 67, of Tres Pinos, California passed away on March 6 th , 2021 at his home after a courageous battle with cancer.

He was born in Newark, New Jersey on June 8 th , 1953. Son of the late Louis and Helen Yurek. He is survived by his spouse, Eileen Yurek,...

Mar 6, 2021

Heather Diane Watts (Jackson) (aka. Sweet Girl, Hedgehog, Heddy, HDW, Do, Hedgie, Hedgling, H-Bomb) of Gilroy, CA passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 6, 2021 as a result of BRCA-1 Positive Ovarian Cancer.  Heather is survived by her loving husband Robert Fitzgerald Watts, her beloved sons Jackson Fitzgerald Watts and Joshua Stone Watts, her parents Kay Jackson Martin and...

Mar 2, 2021

Frances (panchita) Lopez, 79, passed away on March 2, 2021, in Atwater CA.  She is survived by her husband, Felix Lopez. Daughters, Stella Cripps (Lee), Connie Silva (Steve) and son, Felix Lopez Jr.  Also survived by her Grandsons, Anthony Cripps, Christopher Silva and Jonathan Silva. Sister, Dolores Portello of Gilroy and Brother, Raymond Provencio of Arizona. She was preceded...

Mar 1, 2021

Evelyn C. Bautista (nee Malinao) was born in Gilroy, CA on January 27, 1932 to Marcial and Victoria Malinao. Brought into this world by Mrs. C. Silva, midwife. The youngest of Marcial's two daughters, she grew up a tomboy. She drove a cultivator-tractor at 10 and had a legal permit to drive at 14. She attended Gilroy schools. At...

Mar 1, 2021

~ Suzy Vassale ~

Suzy was born to Joseph and Evelyn Vassale on March 11, 1972 in Orange CA. She was their youngest child and baby sister of Steven and Camille. Suzy is a graduate of St. Mary's School in Gilroy and Notre Dame High School in Salinas.

Suzy was extremely ambitious, a real go-getter,...

Feb 28, 2021

Remembering our beloved and most cherished son, Christopher James Bullock, who passed away on February 28, 2021. Christopher was born at Sequoia Hospital, Redwood City, Califomia, on January 27,1966.

He is the third son of Richard Bert Bullock and Kay Lynne Busterud Bullock.  He is survived by four brothers, Chett Kimball (Nancy), Sean Richard (Shara),...

Feb 27, 2021

John L. Sander passed away at Hazel Hawkins Hospital at the age of 70. John L. was born in Tillamook, Oregon, and went to Sacred Heart Grade School, Mt. Angel Seminary, Tillamook Catholic High School, Southern Oregon University, and San Francisco College of Mortuary Science. He received a bachelor's of business administration in 1985 and worked at Waud's Funeral...

Feb 26, 2021

Donald Charles Thome peacefully passed away on February 26th in Elk Grove, Ca with his longtime companion, Sally Bunce, at his side. Donald was the eldest son of Donald Sheryl Thome and Bertha Marie Gotterba. A longtime resident of Gilroy, Ca he was involved in Boy Scouts as a youth where he earned the Eagle Scout Award;...

Feb 22, 2021

We lost a wonderful woman February 22nd. Eileen Carter was born in Massachusetts in 1921, one of six children. After World War II, she moved to California to attend San Jose State College where she studied Social Work. There she met her brother's best friend, Robert Barret. Bob and Eileen were married in 1949 at Stanford University. They managed...

Feb 20, 2021

Kitty Ann Muraoka, born on 2/11/1952 passed away at home on 2/20/2021. Kitty worked with her mother Vivian Corbin at Becky's Burger Pit after High School. She would later meet and marry the love of her life, Frank Muraoka. They would go on to have two children, Scott Muraoka and Gary Muraoka. Kitty...

Feb 11, 2021

Elizabeth is currently in peace, love, joy and worship in the Kingdom of God and our Lord Jesus Christ. She has reached her destiny where all Saints will soon be!

While here on earth, she suffered a devastating stroke.  She strove to overcome its affects and complications, all the while never complaining, looking forward to coming back...

Feb 9, 2021

Gregory Toscano was born in Harlingen, Texas on November 29, 1946 and was raised in Gilroy from a very young age.  Greg went to local schools and graduated from Gilroy High.  He passed away on February 9, 2021.

Greg was a veteran who was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in 1968, serving his country as a...

Feb 7, 2021

It is with a heavy heart that the husband and children of Lourdes Tongson Pizarro wish to inform her family and friends that she went back to her Maker on February 7, 2021, after a long battle with multiple organ failure and encephalopathy, as a result of an initial covid infection last December. She was cleared of the covid...

Feb 6, 2021

On February 6th, 2021, Christine Duenas passed away at the age of 66. Christine was born in Gilroy, CA. Raised with her 3 brothers and 5 sisters off of Hecker Pass. Christine was the mother of Mark (Vanessa) Ashford and the grandmother of Ashley (Ashford) (Myranda)Sotelo, Miranda Ashford, Alexia Ashford and Heather Ashford. Sister to Manual (Marian) Martinez, Mary...

Feb 5, 2021

It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Mom and

Gammy. Grace went to be with Our Lord and Savior on Friday, February 5, 2021.

A long time Gilroy resident, Gracie, as she was known by her friends, passed away from complications due to Covid-19 at Santa...

Feb 3, 2021

Madeline Racquel Valadez born Feb. 9, 1937 in Oxnard, Ca. To Fred and Rose Sotelo of the Philippines. The family moved to Gilroy when Madeline was only 9 years old. It was then they established RB Berry Farm on Rucker Ave. The family grew and sold vegetables, raspberries, strawberries and were the first family to have cherry tomatoes in...

Feb 3, 2021

Ernie Lopez Senior was born in 1952 in Carrizo Springs, Texas to Antonio and Dolores Lopez. After graduating from Gilroy High School he met the love of his life, Rosie Valdez. They married at the tender ages of 20 and 22. They had three kids Ernie Lopez Junior, John Lopez , and Rosie (Lopez) Duenas.  He went on to...

Jan 27, 2021

Daniel (Dan) Velasco passed away in San Jose on Wednesday, January 27, 2021 at the age of 73 following complications from a brief illness.

Dan was born in Gilroy to Crisanto and Eva Velasco. He graduated from Gilroy High School in 1965. He went on to graduate from San Jose State and later became a social worker...