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Patricia Van Der Werf
Patricia Van Der Werf, 88, went to be with our Lord and Savior on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2007.
She was born Jan. 26, 1919 to Agnes and Emil Vollmer in Chicago, Ill. She was preceded in death by her sisters, Bernice, Vera and Shirley.
She is survived by her husband of 66 years, John; her six children, Carole (Bill Wood), John (Lynn), Paul (Debra), Jim, Edward (Roxanne) and Barbara (Mark Russo); 18 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Patricia (Pat) married John (Van) in Chicago on April 19, 1941 after a four-year courtship. She would reflect, “He chased me for a long time but I finally caught him.” The couple moved to Arizona with their six youngsters in 1955.
She was a dedicated wife and mother. The couple started Border Products, an Arizona corporation, in 1955. This company has impacted commercial construction in the Valley and the southwest region for generations and is still in business today.
She embraced the importance of family and devoted herself to raising children and grandchildren of character. She would say, “If you can’t say anything nice don’t say anything at all.”
These were words she lived by, as she always had kind words for others. She was a true lady among women, a role model for her daughters and granddaughters.
She managed a household and was a fantastic cook. Family favorites included red cabbage, baked beans, date nut bread and cherry crisp. She enjoyed camping with her children and her love of the mountains would lead her and Van to purchase property in Show Low where they enjoyed many cool get-aways. She enjoyed dancing, playing bridge and golf, shooting a hole-in-one at the Show Low Country Club.
She was involved in her community, from teaching religious education at her church, to being a Cub Scout den mother, to her involvement with the Fountain Hills Festival of Arts and Crafts. She graciously hosted many parties for family, friends and neighbors.
Her gentle spirit and generous compassion will be missed. Join in celebrating the life of this classy lady on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. at Church of the Ascension, Fountain Hills.
Those who would like to send a donation may send it to The National Association for the Visually Impaired, (212) 889-3141.
Jason M. Dalrymple
Jason Michael Dalrymple, 29, of Fountain Hills died Jan. 10, 2008 in Phoenix.
He was born Oct. 23, 1978 in Pomton Plains, N.J. He served in the U.S. Navy and worked as a restaurant chef.
He is survived by his parents, Bruce and Deborah Dalrymple of Fountain Hills; two brothers, Douglas Dalrymple of Tempe, and Jonathan Dalrymple of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; a sister, Brooke Dalrymple of Fountain Hills; and grandfather, Allan Dalrymple of Laurens, S.C.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, Jan. 16, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Messinger Fountain Hills Mortuary, 12065 Saguaro Blvd.
Services will be held on Thursday, Jan. 17, at 10 a.m. at Fountain Hills Christian Center, 16239 Ironwood Drive, Fountain Hills.
Esther H. Girardi
Esther H. Girardi, 95, passed away on Jan. 7, 2008. She was born on Jan. 31, 1912 in Vicenza, Italy to Umberto and Dusolina Trentin.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Erminio. Esther, formerly of Chicago, was a resident of Fountain Hills and a member of the Church of the Ascension for 27 years.
She is survived by daughters Marilyn Bertolini and Elaine (Kenneth) Spinato. Also surviving are her grandchildren Ronald (Hope) Bertolini, Lori (Craig) Hudson, Richard (Katherine) Bertolini, Nicole (Chris) Kienlen and Anthony (Jaime) Spinato.
Esther was a loving great-grandmother to Sam, Rebecca and Michael Hudson; Shelby, Scout, Kendall, Payton, Tiger, Josh, Jett, Cooper and Cory Bertolini; Taylor, Cole and Kennedy Kienlen.
Interment will be in Chicago on Friday, Jan. 19. Anyone wishing may make a donation to the Hospice of the Valley, 1510 East Flower Street, Phoenix, AZ 85014.
Marsha S. MacDonald
Marsha Sue (Zeitzman) MacDonald, 55, of Fountain Hills, beloved wife of Colin E. MacDonald, died at home surrounded by her many friends and family Friday, Jan. 11, 2008.
She was born in San Diego, Calif., daughter of Milton and the late Shirley (Noe) Zeitzman, and had lived in Fountain Hills for the past 15 years.
In addition to her husband and father, Marsha is survived by her sister, Valerie Faber, and brothers, William and Allan, of Oxnard, Calif.; as well as many in-laws, nieces and nephews.
Marsha was a talented artist who enjoyed painting murals and ceramics. Marsha will be best remembered for her generous, loving spirit and her gift of service. She was an active volunteer with the Arizona Chapter of the ALS Association, the Church of the Ascension in Fountain Hills and a founding board member of Healing the Children.
Her family would like to thank all of the exceptional people who helped Marsha during her illness, especially Dr. Todd Levine and his staff of Phoenix Neurological Associates, Dr. Matthew Hummel and his staff of Fountain Hills Family Practice, and her caregiver, Maribel Dominguez-Tena, for their expertise and kindness.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Arizona Chapters of the ALS Association and Healing the Children.
A memorial service was held Tuesday, Jan. 15, at Messinger Fountain Hills Mortuary.
May Powell Fowler
May Powell McKendry Fowler, 85, born March 19, 1923- died April 30, 2008.
May is survived by her two daughters, Francesca Franchi of Fountain Hills, and Sandra Gazetta of Lady Lakes, Fla., her son-in-law, Sam; and grandchildren, Janelle Wilson of Nebraska, Debra McBean of Florida and Russell Gazetta of Florida; and five great-grandchildren.
She also leaves behind her sister, Mary Eeles of St. Albens Heights, England; her niece, Shaen Gabor of the Isle of Jersey and nephew, James Eeles of Newport Pagnell, Bucks, England; and her great nieces, Chantelle and Sophie, of England.
As a dual citizen of the UK and the US May chose Fountain Hills as her place of residence for nearly 20 years.
She was originally born in New York City, and raised around Bucks County N.Y. She was known to and loved by many for her cheerful and positive outlook, her sense of humor and wit.
She truly was a beautiful and kind person as seen through her volunteer work of 50 years and at the Fountain Hills Extended Hands Food Bank for the past five years.
May enjoyed porcelain painting and other crafts, the opera and reading. But her passion was the game of tennis. In her youth she was a trained swimmer, lifeguard and diver and was once considered for the U.S. Olympics for her diving.
During WW II she was a missile inspector for the U.S. Navy. She worked as an overseas telephone operator/supervisor for 25 years and as a bookkeeper for Krazy Glue Corp. until retiring.
Memorial services will be held on Thursday, May 8, at 11 a.m. at the Fountain Hills Christian Center, 16239 Ironwood Drive at Fountain Hills Boulevard, two miles south of Shea Boulevard. A luncheon will immediately follow services for any who would like to attend.
Fredrick A. Luft, Jr.
Frederick August Luft, Jr., age 87, formerly of Fountain Hills, and St. Paul, Minn. passed from this life on May 1, 2008.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Barbara; two children; Rev. Dr. Sue Gallagher of Albuquerque, N.M., Frederick A. (Sam) Luft III of Scottsdale; two grandchildren, Pieter Frederick Gallagher and Frederick A. (Derick) Luft IV; and one great grandchild, Luke. He was preceded in death by a son, David Allan Luft, in 1963.
Fred was born on May 10, 1920 in St. Paul, Minn. to the late Frederick August Luft, Sr. and Myrtle (Skog) Luft. He graduated from Hamline University in St. Paul in 1941.
Fred served his country in the United States Navy as a Lt. Commander during WWII. He married Barbara Skarnes on Oct. 5, 1942 in Tacoma, Wash.
He was a realtor and broker in St. Paul for many years, having served as a former President of the St. Paul Board of Realtors. Additionally, he was also a member of the Washington Realtors Committee. Fred pioneered the marketing of the first computerized format for the Multiple Listing Service with International Graphics Corporation.
Following retirement, he and his wife moved to Fountain Hills where they lived until moving to Albuquerque in 2004 to be near their daughter. While in Fountain Hills, he was named Citizen of the Year. Fred was an avid golfer all of his life and celebrated three holes in one.
A memorial service will be held for Fred on Saturday, May 10, 2008 at 11 a.m. at Church of the Good Shepherd United Church of Christ, 7834 Tennyson Street NE, Albuquerque with reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Church of the Good Shepherd UCC Building Fund, 7834 Tennyson St. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87122.
William W. Williams
William W. “Bill” Williams, 84, of Fountain Hills died April 30, 2008 in Scottsdale.
Mr. Williams was born Dec. 21, 1923 in Athens, Ohio. He received a Purple Heart for his service in the U.S. Army during World War II.
He was retired as an administrative manager for Westinghouse. He was co-founder of Fountain Hills Senior Services, and Quality Life Senior Group, Atlanta, Ga.
Mr. Williams is survived by his wife Mary Elizabeth Williams of Fountain Hills; one son, Klaus D. Williams of Virginia; one daughter, Elizabeth Williams of Mesa; three grandchildren, January M. Williams, William Raymond Williams and Michael E. Williams; and one great grandchild, Anon Elizabeth Williams.
Services for Bill Williams were held Saturday, May 3, a Messinger Fountain Hills Mortuary Chapel. The Rev. Alyce Hardin-Cook officiated.
Nan C. Caraway
Nan Carolyn Caraway joined her beloved husband with the Lord on March 10, 2008.
She was born Sept. 30, 1938 in Dallas, Texas. She is survived by her daughter Nancy Caraway Flores; son, William Don Caraway II; grandchildren, Derek, Austin, Hayden, Ethan and David.
Nan was a mother, a school teacher, a grandmother and involved with many local clubs and charities including, Fountain Hills Women’s Club, Home Delivered Meals, bridge club and Relay for Life.
Her hobbies included bridge, arts and crafts and most of all being an inspiration to us all.
She was an ovarian cancer survivor for nine years. She will be missed by us all.
Michael D’Agostino, Jr.
Michael D'Agostino, Jr., 66, of Fountain Hills, Arizona, passed away on March 20, 2008. He was born July 13, 1941, in Harrisburg, Pa.
Michael was a journeyman electrician, member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and was also a retail distributor for vacuum cleaners and air filtration systems for many years. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, and a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.
He is the beloved husband of Jeanne (Lehman) D'Agostino, formerly of Trappe, Pa. to whom he was married for more than 35 years.
Surviving are Michael's mother, Marjorie D'Agostino, of Lewisberry, Pa; daughters Natasha D'Agostino of Charlotte, N.C., and Tiffany D'Agostino of Bloomsburg, Pa., Tammy Jones of Stevens, Pa., Anita Rodgers of Reading, Pa., Dannette D'Agostino of Denver, Pa.; and Patrice Leonard of Enola, Pa.; sons Michael D'Agostino and Brent D'Agostino both of W. Va.; and eight grandchildren.
Michael is also survived by sisters Anita L. Worth of Camp Hill, Pa., Denise D. Henke of Lewisberry, Pa., Donna Mia D'Agostino-Ciminale of Padova, Italy; two nephews and two nieces, four grand nephews, and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Michael was the son of the late Michael D'Agostino, Sr., of Casalbordino, Italy.
Michael's life will be celebrated with a memorial service on his birthday, at Lewisberry United Methodist Church, near his hometown of Harrisburg, Pa. Donations in his memory may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Genevieve Ludke
Genevieve Ludke, 80, of Mesa and formerly of Rice Lake, Wis. died at her home on March 1, 2008.
Memorial services will be held on Sunday, April 13, at 215 N. Power Rd, Mesa at 9:15 a.m.
Mrs. Ludke was born July 22, 1927 in Siren, Wis. to Otto and Anna Stream. She married Wesley Ludke on June 3, 1944, and moved to Rice Lake, Wis. shortly thereafter.
In 1982, the couple moved to Fountain Hills. Both worked in the community, Wesley sold real estate and Genevieve worked at the Fountain Restaurant for 12 years. In 2001 they moved to Mesa. Wesley and Genevieve would have been married 65 years this June.
She is survived by her husband, Wesley; five daughters, Patricia Stoik of Rice Lake, Jeannette Amundson of Stanley, Wis., Margo Morgan of Fountain Hills, Cherie Kraft of Aurora, Colo., and Bobette McDaniel of Queen Creek, Ariz.; one son, Gerald of Aurora, Colo.; twelve grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
Family prefers that memorials be made in Genevieve’s name to Valley of the Sun Hospice at 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014-5656.
Lucy Rolen
Lucy Worth (Boswell) Mark-Rolen, 102, passed away peacefully with her daughter at her side on Feb. 29, 2008.
She was born in Clinton Falls, Ind. on Sept. 3, 1905 and has lived in Arizona since August 1995.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, Eugene J.R. Mark and Wilbur R. (Bud) Rolen; her parents, Ora Allison Boswell and Mattie Elva (Hamrick) Boswell; sister, Lydia Oliver (Boswell) Griffith-Hochmeister; brother, Ora William Boswell, and great-grandson, Kurt Thiel Vogel.
She is survived by her daughter, Ardith Gene (Mark) Ullery-Brown of Fountain Hills; a step-daughter, Joyce (Rolen) Pottenger of Fort Myers, Fla.; two granddaughters, Linda Jo (Ullery) Bennett-Pavlock-Mayer of Michigan City, Ind., and Sharon Ann (Ullery) Hartenstein-(Don) Vogel of Fountain Hills; seven step-grandchildren, Ellen Carol (Ullery) Hurtle, Vicki Lynn (Ullery) (Richard) Leach, both of Mishawaka, Ind., Kathy (Pottenger) Felszer of Estero, Fla., Patty (Pottenger) (Greg) Winters of Green Oaks, Ill., Laurie (Pottenger) (Fred) Nauman of Kalkaska, Minn., Julie (Rolen) (Wayne) Bachus, Beth (Rolen) Tevah, Steve (Holly) Rolen, all of Denver, Colo., and Vicki (Rolen)(Fred) Santiago of Valparaiso, Ind.; 25 great-grandchildren; six great-great- grandchildren; four nieces and three nephews.
She retired from Local Union Office #65 of the Rubber Workers of America in 1963. She was a 62-year member of Osceola Chapter #598 Order of Eastern Star and Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem, Hope Shrine #22. She was also a member of Four Peaks Chapter DAR in Fountain Hills.
Lucy was cremated and a memorial service will be held at Christ’s Church of Fountain Hills, 15555 E. Bainbridge Ave., Fountain Hills on Saturday, March 29, at 11 a.m.
The family suggests memorial contributions to the Humane Society of Arizona, 1521 W. Dobbins Road, Phoenix, AZ 85041, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Paul Thomas Seiwert
Paul Thomas Seiwert, age 9, of Fountain Hills died March 21, 2008 at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
He was born Dec. 20, 1998 in Maywood, Ill. and was a student at Four Peaks Elementary School.
He is survived by his father, Thomas C. Seiwert (Teresa) of Park Ridge, Ill.; his mother Catherine; brothers, T.J. Seiwert and Matthew Seiwert of Fountain Hills; and his maternal grandparents, Raymond and Dawn Mow of Elk Grove, Ill.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Lawrence and Margaret Seiwert.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, March 26, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Messinger Fountain Hills Mortuary, 12065 Saguaro Blvd., Fountain Hills.
Funeral services will be Thursday, March 27, at 11 a.m., at Christ’s Church, 15555 Bainbridge Ave., Fountain Hills. Burial will be at Paradise Memorial Gardens in Scottsdale.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in honor of the Paul Thomas Seiwert Memorial Fund at any Bank of America.
Morrison Ainsworth
Morrison “Mel” Ainsworth, 77, loving husband, father, grandfather and brother passed away Jan. 18, 2008.
Mel was born Sept. 7, 1930 in Akron, Ohio to Morrison M. and Mary Katherine Ainsworth (deceased). He is survived by his wife Constance of 54 years; daughter Shelli (Geoff) of Minneapolis, Minn.; son, Larry of Branson Mo.; sister, Barbara Porter of Akron, Ohio; four grandchildren, Ashley Matthew (Tyler), Dietrich Ainsworth Sieling, Larry Sass-Ainsworth and Thea Sass-Ainsworth.
Mel served his country during the Korean Conflict in the U.S. Marines. He was employed by B.F. Goodrich before moving to Phoenix. He retired in 1995.
Mel was an active member of the Fountains Methodist Church in Fountain Hills. He also mentored with Fountain Hills public schools. He enjoyed golfing and sporting events but most of all he enjoyed being with his family.
Mel will be missed by all who knew him and the hole that his passing has left in the hearts of his family will never be filled.
Memorial Services will be held at the Fountains Methodist Church, 15300 N. Fountain Hills Blvd., Sunday, Jan. 27, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Hospice of the Valley, Sherman House, 5801 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85054 or the Fountains Methodist Church.
