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Louise Bordessa
Louise Mary Bordessa, 69, of Valley Ford, died on March 26.
Born in Occidental, she worked as a teacher before retiring in '93.
Her hobbies included cooking, trips to Reno, the 49ers and collecting Santa.
She is survived by her husband, Andy Bordessa of Valley Ford, her children Andy Bordessa Jr. of Cloverdale, Lori Gates of Santa Rosa and Leone Manni of Forestville, son-in-law Mel Manni of Forestville and many grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Francis G. "Frank" Bauer, 80, died on May 21 in his Sebastopol home.
Born in Montana, he served with the U.S. Navy during World War II, graduated from William Jewell College and received his doctorate from Georgetown University Law School.
Frank was an avid reader who also enjoyed music, painting and gardening.
He is survived by his children Catherine Cabrera, Chris Bauer and his wife Carol of Sebastopol, Ellen Jane Schalski and Martha Joanna Stephan, seven grandchildren and siblings Victoria, Dorothea, James and Joann.
Memorial contributions in Frank's name may be made to Valley of the Moon Children's Foundation, PO Box 11671, Santa Rosa 95406.
Hazel Cooper, passed away April 22 in Sebastopol at the age of 81.
She was involved in the Planned Parenthood Organization and volunteered at the Peace Center for many years.
She is survived by her daughters Barbara Cooper, Gretchen Cooper, Gwen MacLain and Mary Schwartz; sister Elizabeth Burney; seven grandson; and three great grandsons.
Donations may be made in Hazel's name to Planned Parenthood.
Ray C. Elliott - Veteran, life member of the V.F.W. Family
Ray C. Elliott died in Santa Rosa on May 22, 2003. Beloved husband for 45 years of Sharon L. Elliott of Santa Rosa.
Loving father of David P. Elliott and his wife, Pam, of Petaluma; Ranny C. Elliott and his wife, Sharon, of Smithville, Texas; and the late Chris Lynn Elliott and Tod Anthony Elliott.
Adored grandfather of April Rae Elliott, Tracy Lynn Elliott, Andrea Marie Elliott.
Great-grandfather of Tod Anthony Michael Frank.
Loving brother of Earl Elliott of Santa Rosa, Harland Elliott of Healdsburg, Robert Elliott of Grants Pass, Oregon and Grace Davis of Santa Rosa.
Dear friend of Marie R. Schuck of Santa Rosa.
Also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
A native of Freestone, he was 83.
Mr. Elliott was a veteran of the U.S. Army and was a well known tree surgeon in Sonoma County.
He was a life member of the V.F.W. Family and friends attended the funeral service on Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at the Parent-Sorensen Mortuary & Crematory in Petaluma.
The family prefers memorials be made to the American Heart Association.
Elizabeth (Lisa) Elsbree - Windsor matriarch
Elizabeth (Lisa) Elsbree passed away peacefully at home with her family by her side on Thursday, May 22, 2003.
Loving wife of the late Charles N. "Pat" Elsbree.
Beloved mother of Charles Elsbree and wife Diana; Don Elsbree and wife Kay; Jack Elsbree of Healdsburg; Patty Timmsen and husband Ron; Candace Bailey and husband Brian.
Cherished grandmother of twelve: Charles, Michael, Tina, Michelle, Davida, Heidi, Jessica, Rachael, Patrick, Christopher, Jennifer, and the late Michael Ricaud; as well as five great-grandchildren: Amelia, Wesley, Vanessa, Sayla and Rose.
Lisa was born in Puu'nene, Maui in 1914.
She grew up and went to school in Antioch.
She loved to dance, entering many dance contests as a young girl.
She moved to Windsor with her husband Pat in 1945 and soon settled on a ranch in the north Windsor area.
The ranch consisted of prunes, apples, pears, grapes and a Christmas tree farm, along with raising sheep, cattle and horses.
Lisa and Pat raised their family there and were very involved in the community and many service organizations such as the Windsor Grange and Farm Bureau.
After Pat died in 1975, Lisa became more involved in various volunteer positions in the community.
She was at one time on the board of the Windsor Historical Society, the Windsor Chamber of Commerce, the Windsor Boys & Girls Club and the Senior Advisory Committee.
She also served as an Ambassador for the Windsor Chamber of Commerce and for years volunteered at the Windsor Community Methodist United Church, helping with the rummage sale and with the food giveaway at the Windsor Food Pantry.
After a time the ranch was developed and homes were built on the land, which is now Elsbree Estates.
She loved helping her community and helping to preserve the history of Windsor.
Lisa was famous for her pies, salsa and for her garden, especially her roses.
She was an avid walker and would be seen walking with her dog, Tiger, every morning throughout Windsor until the last few years.
Lisa will be dearly missed by her family and many close friends.
The love that Lisa gave will continue to be felt and returned.
Family and friends attended the funeral service at the Windsor Community United Methodist Church on Tuesday, May 27, followed by a reception at the church.
There will be a private interment.
Donations may be made in her memory to the Windsor Historical Society, PO Box 1544, Windsor, 95492; or the Windsor Boys & Girls Club, 9640 Brooks Road Windsor, 95492.
Madalene Forcella - Lived 100 years, one-time resident of Healdsburg
Madalene Forcella Lebel passed away in Fresno on May 20, 2003 at the age of 100.
She was born in Bergamo, Italy and came to America with her mother in 1908. She resided in Walkerville, Montana with her father, mother and brother.
Later she lived in San Francisco for several years, worked at the Post Office and married Alex Label in 1947.
Their residences included Mill Valley and Healdsburg for the next 47 years.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Joseph Forcella in 1979 and her husband, Alex in 1995.
She has resided in Fresno since 1995 and is survived by her nephew Robert Forcella, his wife Patricia, their two sons and one daughter.
Graveside services were held at Belmont Memorial Park on Saturday, May 24 at 10:30 a.m.
Remembrances may be made to Saint Helens Church, 4875 East Grant, Fresno, 93727.
Charles "Al" LaVine, 83, died in his Occidental home,
May 18 after a battle with cancer.
A Sacramento native, he was a retired instrument maker from Mare Island Naval Shipyard.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing and garage sales.
He is preceded in death by his parents Mae and Charlie LaVine and siblings Gene, Quentin, Richard, Lyle and Lila LaVine.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Evelyn LaVine, his children Linda Swatsenbarg and her husband, Jim of Montana, Ginny LaVine-Barrera and her husband, Antonio of Occidental, Cheri Gosselin and her husband, Ken of Occidental, Denise Mezzanares and her husband, Gary of Santa Rosa, his grandchildren Shayla and Korey Gosselin, Staci Mezzanares and Isaias Barrera, his siblings Laurence LaVine of Dillon Beach and Donna Simpson of North Carolina and numerous nieces and nephews.
Donations in his memory can be made to Memorial Hospice, 821 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa.
Alvin Panelli, Occidental native
Alvin Panelli, 79, died on May 18 in Santa Rosa.
Born and raised in Occidental, he went to school at Meeker Elementary and Tomales High.
He served in the U.S. Navy in World War II in the South Pacific.
He retired from Woodroof Structures and Lunardi Electric.
He was a member of the Occidental Volunteer Fire Department and enjoyed steelhead and trout fishing and hunting.
He played shortstop for the Occidental American Legion Team.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Catherine (Gonnella) and Umberto Panelli.
He is survived by his companion Anita Lewis and many cousins.
Donations in his memory can be made to the St. Philip's Church Restoration Fund or the Occidental Volunteer Fire Department.
Benjamin W. Salvon - Former owner of the Camp Rose Inn
Family and friends remember Benjamin W. Salvon, who died May 12 at age 71 after a long illness.
Up until the last week of his life, Ben was striving to return to health.
A few days before his death, he and his family learned of the terminal nature of the cancer complicated by diabetes.
Following the scattering of his ashes from his boat under the Golden Gate Bridge, a celebration of his life, for the immediate family and closest friends, will be held privately.
He grew up in Albany, Oregon and as an adolescent began his lifetime pursuit of knowledge.
Using money earned from hard labor at his family's lumber mill, Ben would buy books on the widest range of subjects.
He often received calls from a bookseller who had selected books for him to purchase.
He attended the University of Oregon, was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity, enjoyed work as a disc jockey, and became a star track athlete.
Ben enlisted as a paratrooper in the Army and achieved the rank of major in the Korean War.
Upon his return to civilian life, he continued his college education under the G.I. Bill to receive a business degree from San Jose State University.
Upon graduation, he flew his own plane through Central and South America for the better part of a year.
After working at Tidewater Oil, and California Department of Fish and Game, he moved to Healdsburg to help his uncle open the city's first car wash.
While employed with the County of Sonoma, he re-opened Camp Rose Inn on Fitch Mountain in 1971.
The successful restaurant provided the only setting in the town of Healdsburg to dine on the banks of the Russian River and was a popular stop for locals and tourists alike.
In 1976, the restaurant expanded to include dinner-theater, thus creating the Camp Rose Players.
Ben was a talented sculptor, an accomplished jazz pianist and a fine actor.
When he wasn't tending bar, he took to the stage, with lead roles in "The Lion in Winter" and "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum."
Ben was active in founding the Fitch Mountain Homeowner's Association, spearheading projects to bring stronger fire protection and a better water system to Fitch Mountain residents.
Ben took an early retirement at the age of 50.
He and his mate, Mary Potasz, lived abroad for several years and pursued their mutual love of travel through Europe, Asia, the Middle East, South Seas, New Zealand and Australia.
He studied celestial navigation and bought the first of several boats he kept in Sausalito for outings around San Francisco Bay, where he spent much of his time in later years.
Ben's voracious reading habit and insatiable thirst for knowledge provided him with a unique perspective in the areas of world history, literature, science, politics, and current events.
His extensive knowledge in these areas along with his charismatic demeanor lead to what many will attest, a lifetime of engaging conversations.
Those around him also recognized his keen abilities as an observer of human nature and often delighted in his inhibitions when it came to sharing his insights.
Add to this list his reputation as an avid football fan, a technophile and collector of the latest gadgetry, and as an impassioned amateur astronomer.
It becomes clear why so many regarded Ben as a renaissance man of sorts.
Ben also possessed an off-the-wall sense of humor and heightened sense for drama which tended to place him as the center of attention at any social gathering.
Indeed, many consider Ben's love of irony and uncanny ability to retain bad jokes as legendary.
On occasion, his warped but unique brand of humor bordered on the downright bizarre; describing his greatest ambition in life as to become a Soul Train dancer.
He is survived by his mate - "favorite land mammal," Mary Potasz, his children Jeff Salvon of Portland, Oregon, and Hilary Holmoe, Jennifer Tremont, and Suzanne Webb, all of Sonoma County.
He leaves three grandchildren, Jessica Holmoe, Emma Tremont, Lily Tremont, and several cousins along with a multitude of friends and admirers.
To all those whose lives he has affected, he will be sorely misse
d. The family owes special thanks to the staff at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital Sotoyome Campus who helped care for Ben.
He was greatly appreciative and loved all of the attention.
Donations may be made in his name to the Robert Ferguson Observatory at www.rfo.org or the Humane Society of Sonoma County, P.O. Box 1296, Santa Rosa, 95402.
