Upcoming Burials
Burial for Hermina Avila
Herminia Avila, 93 of Gustine passed away on Tuesday, September 10, 2024 at Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock.
Mrs. Avila was born in Sao Jorge, Azores and was a resident of Gustine for many years. She was a Parishioner of Shrine of Our Lady of Miracles and member of LUSO America, PFSA and the Shrine of Our Lady of Miracles Society. Mrs. Avila enjoyed cooking, baking, reading and gardening.
Herminia is survived by her daughter, Loraine Dores of Gustine; brother, Lino Sousa of San Jose; four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Avila; parents, Manuel and Adriana Sousa; brothers, Manuel Sousa, Richard Sousa and Carlos Sousa; sisters, Maria Silveira, Ernestina Lemos and Teresa Faustino.
A Visitation will be held at 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, with a Rosary starting at 6:00 pm, Tuesday, September 24th, at Hillview Funeral Chapel in Gustine. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am, Wednesday, September 25th at Shrine of Our Lady of Miracles in Gustine. Interment to follow at Hills Ferry Cemetery in Newman.
Donations can be made to Shrine of Our Lady of Miracles 370 Linden Avenue Gustine, CA 95322.
Burial of Angie M. Jackson
Angie Marie Jackson, 86,
It is with great sadness we announce the passing of our mother Angie M. Jackson. She passed away peacefully on August 30, 2024 surrounded by her loving family. Angie was born on June 6, 1938 to Frank and Mary Ventura, in Dos Palos California. Angie was a longtime resident of Fresno, California.
She is survived by her three loving children, Sandra Torres,
Wendy McIntosh, and Kenneth Jackson, her pride and joy 8 grandchildren,
27, Great grandchildren., and five great great grandchildren.
Our Dearest Mother, You will always be missed, and forever in our hearts. We love you
Geraldine Marie Barletta
Geraldine “ Gerry” Marie Barletta, 68 of Patterson passed away on August 31, 2024 at Sutter Hospital in Sacramento.
Mrs. Barletta was born in Turlock, CA and was a resident of Patterson for many years. She was a bus driver for Patterson schools and student driver instructor. She could usually be found at an athletic event as she loved seeing all the students, she had great love for her community. Geraldine had a kooky personality and told jokes to the end. She took great pride in being a mother and her grandkids were her world.
Mrs. Barletta was survived by her husband, Frank Barletta, Jr. of Patterson; daughters, Tara Winegar of Twin Falls, Idaho, Kayla Rose of Turlock and Nicole Barletta of Patterson; brothers, Lloyd Souza, Jr. of Turlock, Robert Souza of Turlock and Ronnie Souza of Stevinson; sister, Jackie Barcelos of Hilmar and six grandchildren.
A Visitation will be held at 5:00pm to 6:00pm, followed by a Rosary at 6:00pm, Wednesday, September 18, 2024 and a Funeral Service will be held at 10:00am, Thursday, September 19, 2024 at Hillview Funeral Chapels in Patterson. Interment to follow at Hills Ferry Cemetery in Newman.\
In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to your favorite school or athletic organization in Gerry’s name.
Burial of Elwood Escobar
Obituary for Elwood E. Escobar
Elwood E. Escobar entered into rest on August 24, 2024. He was 89 years old. Born to Joaquin and Mary Escobar on April 4, 1935, in the family home and raised in Gustine, CA. He passed away peacefully at his home in Denair, CA. He is survived by his wife of almost 40 years, Cherie Escobar, his children, Mardie Caldwell, Michael Escobar (Lyra), Steve Escobar, Sandy Escobar Schmidt, John Escobar, Anne Frost (Michael), Alison Bryson (David), his grandchildren, Cory Pavan, Julia Pavan, James Escobar, Alexandar Joaquin (AJ) Escobar, Tiffany Frisa-Farrahkon (Moe), Bradley Frisa, Darlene LeVan (Nick), Luke Frost (Savannah), Mary Frost Avila (Matthew), Sara Frost, Joy Frost, Kane Bryson, Kase Bryson and great-grandchildren, Ellie, Louis James, Saraya, Aurion and Lillian. He was preceded in death by parents, infant brother Ivan, sister Bernadine, brother-in-law Ray Langford and grandson Sammy Schmidt.
Elwood served our country in the Army. He completed basic training at Fort Ord in Monterey County, then served in Berlin, Germany during the cold war. He was a bugler and had to get up in the early hours to wake the camp by playing Reveille and ending the day with Taps. He enjoyed German beer and always tried to see if he could order it any where he went.
He married Elaine Souza and together they had five children. He worked and eventually became part owner of Souza’s Propane & Furniture for many years in Turlock.
He was a member of Sacred Heart Parish in Turlock and was on the church building committee in the late 1960’s to its final completion in 1972. The church that stands today is the one he helped design and fund.
In 1983, he met Grandma Allison and “Blue Eyes” while he sold them a tv and recliner. He courted Cherie and her two daughters and they married on November 10, 1984.
Elwood knew that Cherie and the girls came with cows. During their courtship, Cherie & the girls showed cattle at multiple fairs during the summer. Elwood jumped right in by helping halter break, wash cows and clipping cows. He was our personal chef, cooking for us on a griddle in the feed alley wherever we went. We found out he could nap anywhere, even in a folding chair. Together they enjoyed raising registered Shorthorns and commercial beef cattle on their ranch. He enjoyed tending to the cattle, riding horses, gathering and working cattle. He would help other cattleman during their brandings.
Elwood made friends everywhere he went. He was an excellent salesman; he could sell a snow cone to an eskimo. He could talk to you about anything. He enjoyed the Denair community and always strived to make it a safer place to live. In the 90’s, he led the community to fundraise and staff the Denair’s Sheriff ‘s Substation for many years. For 23 years, he served as an appointed Fire Commissioner for the Denair Volunteer Fire Department. He rallied for grants and funding to obtain much needed equipment, trucks and a full-time paid staff member.
Elwood was an entrepreneur. For many years, they owned and operated Big Red Carpet Cleaning. They sold that business and started another business selling Monitor kerosene heaters. He sold heaters at the Stanislaus County Fair during a heat wave, which was truly impressive.
Elwood was a man of faith. Once he retired, he became a Eucharistic minister. His ministry was taking communion, praying and visiting with the Catholic home bound. He truly enjoyed spending time with people that didn’t have anyone to visit them.
Elwood worked part time at several of the local mortuaries. Because of his devotion to our Blessed Mother, he led rosaries at funerals. It was very important to him to make sure he explained the meaning of the rosary for everyone to understand.
One of his most memorable duties was to retrieve military personnel that died in active duty from the airport. One particular soldier had a full police escort from San Francisco to Hughson, CA. Every roadway was blocked off on his route the entire way. He was so honored to be the one bringing our fallen local military to their final resting place. He wanted our military and veterans to be fully taken care of and respected.
He enjoyed his Catholic faith and wanted to share it with others. A long time parishioner at Sacred Heart Church, he taught his grandkids – and many more children - how to serve as altar servers. In the last 10 years, he attended All Saints University Parish in Turlock.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Elwood’s memory to the Building Fund at All Saints University Parish, 4040 McKenna Drive, Turlock, CA 95382 or to the Denair Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 262, Denair, CA 95316
Burial of David Gonzalez Aguilar
David Gonzalez Aguilar, 94 of Gustine passed away on August 16, 2024 at his residence surrounded by his family.
Mr. Gonzalez was born in Guanajuato, Mexico and was a resident of Gustine for many years. He was the owner of Gonzalez Farms and a parishioner of the Shrine of Our Lady of Miracles in Gustine.
Mr. Gonzalez is survived by his wife of 65 years, Dolores Gonzalez Garfias of Gustine; sons, Hector Gonzalez and David Gonzalez, Jr. both of Gustine; daughter, Edith Gonzalez-Stafford (Gregory K. Stafford) of Moorpark; granddaughters, Megan Iturreria (Beau Iturreria) of Turlock, Kayla Jean Stafford, Mia Dolores Stafford both of Colorado and Jenna Wade of Turlock; great-grandchild, Greysen Iturreria of Turlock and two sisters. He was preceded in death by his son, Aram Gonzalez; brother, Aurelio Gonzalez and seven sisters.
A Visitation will be held at 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm followed by a Rosary at 6:30 pm, Thursday, August 29th at Hillview Funeral Chapel in Gustine. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am, Friday, August 30th at the Shrine of Our Lady of Miracles in Gustine. Interment to follow at Hills Ferry Cemetery in Newman.
Services conducted by Hillview Funeral Chapel, Gustine.
~
David Gonzalez Aguilar, 94 de Gustine falleció el 16 de agosto de 2024 en su residencia rodeado de su familia.
Sr. Gonzalez nació en Guanajuato, México y residió en Gustine durante muchos años. Era propietario de Gonzalez Farms y feligrés del Shrine of Our Lady of Miracles en Gustine.
Sr. Gonzalez le sobreviven su esposa durante 65 años, Dolores Gonzalez Garfias de Gustine; hijos, Héctor González y David González, Jr., ambos de Gustine; hija, Edith González-Stafford (Gregory K. Stafford) de Moorpark; nietas, Megan Iturreria (Beau Iturreria) de Turlock, Kayla Jean Stafford, Mia Dolores Stafford ambas de Colorado y Jenna Wade de Turlock; bisnieto, Greysen Iturreria de Turlock y dos hermanas. Le precedieron en la muerte su hijo, Aram González; hermano, Aurelio González y siete hermanas.
Se llevará a cabo un velorio de 5:00 pm a 6:30 pm seguido de un Rosario a las 6:30 pm, el jueves 29 de agosto en Hillview Funeral Chapel en Gustine. Se llevará a cabo una Misa de Cristian Entierro a las 10:00 am del viernes 30 de agosto en el Shrine of Our Lady of Miracles en Gustine. El entierro seguirá en el cementerio Hills Ferry en Newman.
Servicios Funerarios conducidas, Gustine.
Lloyd Lawrence
Lloyd Manuel Lawrence was born on June 9, 1932, and was raised as an only child. He was born in Modesto, CA and became a lifelong resident of Gustine. At the age of 92, Lloyd passed peacefully under hospice care at St. Thomas Retirement Center in Turlock, CA on July 20, 2024.
Lloyd graduated from Gustine High School and grew up working on the family dairy farm on 40 acres of land with his father. He met and fell in love with Joyce Azevedo, whom he married in 1958. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary last September.
After the family dairy was sold in 1964, Lloyd worked for Golden Valley in Los Banos, a division of Foremost. A few years later, Lloyd worked for Leprino Foods both in Newman and then in Tracy for 22 years, after which he retired.
While Lloyd was a devoted family man, he was also a member of the SES, Knights of Columbus, IDES, and Luso-American organizations. He was deeply rooted in the Gustine community and enjoyed participating in the Portuguese Festa’s where he volunteered for many years in the kitchen, carrying statues in the Festa parades, and walking in the candlelight pilgrimages.
Lloyd enjoyed a variety of personal collections to include pens & pencils with the Lawrence name on them, soda cans from different states, license plates, yardsticks, and coins to name a few. He had a passion for photography and was seen with a “camera in hand” for most of his adult life. He loved working with wood and the table saw to repair or create useful items for the house and yard. A great joy for him was to watch his 4 grandchildren play sports or attend whatever they were involved in. And later, he also enjoyed spending time with his 6 great grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Manuel & Mary Lawrence, and his son-in-law, Jim Nunes. He is survived by his wife, Joyce Lawrence, and their two daughters, Sandra (Michael) Seward & Janet (Jim) Nunes. Grandchildren include Nicholas (Lakynn) Seward and Joshua (Kristen) Seward, Justin Nunes, & Allison Nunes, along with 6 Seward great grandchildren: Holden-9, Felicity-8, Lennon-6, Melody-5, Harlow-2, and Holly-1.
Lloyd was known for his kind and gentle spirit. He extended a smile, a joke, and a hand-shake to most all he met. He loved God…and he will be terribly missed.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to St. Thomas Retirement Center, 2937 N. Berkeley Avenue, Turlock, CA 95382 or to the Shrine of Our Lady of Miracles Church, 370 Linden Avenue, Gustine CA 95322.
A Visitation will be held at 5pm to 7pm, with a Rosary starting at 6:30pm, Thursday, August 8th, at Hillview Funeral Chapel in Gustine. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am, Friday, August 9th at Shrine of Our Lady of Miracles in Gustine. Interment to follow at Hills Ferry Cemetery in Newman.
Services conducted by Hillview Funeral Chapels, Gustine.
Celeste Beffa
Celeste Marie Beffa, 89 of Gustine passed away peacefully on Monday, July 15, 2024.
Mrs. Beffa was born in Gustine and lived there her entire life. Celeste looked forward to her time with family, particularly cooking and baking her special dishes. She and her husband Charlie enjoyed traveling to his Navy reunions, seeing cities and sites throughout the country.
Survived by her daughter, Lori Beffa; son, Mitchell Beffa and his wife Susan Beffa; brothers, Manuel Mendonca, Joaquin Mendonca, and Lawrence Mendonca. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Mario Beffa; parents, Antonio and Maria Mendonca; sister, Mary Correia; brothers, Anthony Mendonca, Edward Mendonca, and Benedict Mendonca.
A Visitation will be held at 9:00am to 10:00am, followed by a Rosary and Mass at 10:00am, Friday, August 2, 2024 at the Shrine of Our Lady of Miracles, Gustine. Interment to follow at Hills Ferry Cemetery, Newman.
Services conducted by Hillview Funeral Chapel, Gustine.