Obituaries
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Resident of Alameda
To our great sorrow Maria Erker passed away on May 5, 2015. Her family was blessed to have a great mother, sister, Oma, aunt and friend. Our family was blessed to share our lives with her.
Maria was born on Oct. 8, 1925, in Neulag, Gottschee. Her parents were Eduard Fink and Maria Fink (Neschitz). Her five beloved brothers are Franz, Josef, Gustav, Herbert and Erich, and her two loving sons are Edgar and Erich. She was predeceased by her husband Edgar Erker. Maria had four grandchildren, Alexander, Katrina, Michaela and Christopher and her daughter-in-law Susan.
Her eleven nieces and nephews are Sue, Ed, Christine, Anne, Rose, Rene, Franz, Hans, Karin, Tina, and Maria. Her close friends include Marille Fink, Hermine Geissmann and Marie Pestl.
Maria remained a true Gottscheer all of her life. She believed in God, family, hard work and treating everyone with love and respect. After World War II, Maria immigrated to America through Ellis Island and moved to the Bay Area. This sweet and strong woman worked as a salesperson in her brothers’ bakery (Parkway Quality/Fink’s) and at the Montclair candy shop Le Bon Bon. She sacrificed so much that her children could have the best life possible.
Maria enjoyed trips to Europe and cooking wonderful meals for friends and family. Her caring and loving spirit will be greatly missed by her family and everyone who knew her.
Funeral services were held May 11 at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church. Maria was laid to rest with her husband at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
Greer Family Mortuary and Cremation Services FD 1408
greermortuary.com 865-3755
Resident of Alameda
The Center of Our Universe, Sam Jaber was born in Shorewood, Wisc., and moved to Alameda with his family when he was 14. He worked at his family’s grocery store, the A&S Market, through his teen and college years.
After graduation from Alameda High School he enlisted in the U.S. Army where he was selected to play the bagpipe in the first U.S. Army-sanctioned bagpipe band. After the Army came UC Berkeley, and then UCSF School of Dentistry. He established his dental practice in Alameda where he loved and enjoyed the practice of dentistry. For many years he taught at UCSF Dental School as assistant Clinical professor.
His life was many things to many people: dentist, gardener, bowler, teacher, golfer, artist, planner and builder, hummus maker supreme, Green Bay Packer fan (and one percent shareholder of stock), owner of a ‘59 Peugeot, stock market fan, train travel lover, crap table aficionado, coffee shop regular and lover of many Tahoe summer vacations. We ask that you remember him as you knew him in any or all of his roles — he would be pleased. His many stories and life events will keep him alive for us all.
He was cared for with love and devotion by family: his wife Billie; and children Miriam Jaber Mackey, Daniel and Jane Jaber, Judy Jaber and Dave Worley, and James Jaber; and grandchildren Robert Mackey, Emma and Riley Jaber, and Kate and Audrey Worley. He loved and was proud of his family, and said they all made him “complete.”
He was preceded in death by his parents Abraham and Mary Jaber and his siblings Dr. Albert Jaber, Alice Jaber and George Jaber. His surviving family includes Mrs. Albert Jaber (Betty) and her children Lee Ann Jaber, and David and Tiffany Jaber, and Maddy and Gracie, her granddaughters.
His special friends include the coffee shop support and mutual insult group, and several long time “dent school” friends: Larry Phillips, Tony Smith, Tom Boyce, Larry Louie and the never-forgotten Ted Maxwell and Ralph Juhl, and our dear Jaber relatives. Our friend, Pastor Jack Buckley has been a steadying force for us.
The family will hold a private gathering. Should you like to honor him, we request that any donations in his memory be made to Sutter VNA & Hospice, 1900 Powell St., Suite 300, Emeryville, CA, 94608-1815; The American Federation of Ramallah, Palestine Educational Fund, PO Box 51265, Livonia, MI., 48151, or the First Presbyterian Church of Alameda, 2001 Santa Clara Ave., Alameda, CA. 94501 as all were dear to his heart.
For information, contact Harry W. Greer, funeral director FDR-745.
Alameda Funeral & Cremation Services 1415 Oak St., Alameda
522-6020 alamedafuneral.org
Resident of Alameda
Born in Jemez Springs, N.M., to the late Rosa Lucero and Alfredo Casaus, Lilly was the beloved partner of Craig Knudsen, sister of Richard (Chris), Leo, Ted (Belda), Lorenzo (Carmen), Joe, Clarence (Doris), Debbie (Ruben) Ravago, Pina (Melvin) Johnson, and Guadalupe Ruiz and the late Eloy Casaus and Enriques O’Connor and loving aunt to 31 nieces and nephews.
Lilly worked for Fibreboard, Morgan Stanley and Mervyn’s. She and Craig traveled extensively throughout Europe and South America and she was a fabulous baker and cook. Her amazing toffee will be missed.
Services were held at Greer Family Mortuary and Cremation Services on May 9, and Lilly was laid to rest in Jemez Springs Catholic Cemetery in Jemez Springs.
Greer Family Mortuary and Cremation Services FD 1408
greermortuary.com 865-3755
