Obituaries
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Resident of Alameda
Jeanette Lane was born in Miami on Aug. 5, 1925, and left this world to be home in the Heart of God on April 29, 2015.
She was the beloved mother of Mary and Rose. She is missed more than words can convey.
Before moving to Alameda in 1964, she worked as a nurse at Grasslands Hospital, waitressed weekends at The Red Coach in Yonkers, N.Y. and took summers off to lifeguard at Crotan Point in Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.
After losing her life savings in a Ponzi scheme a few years ago, undaunted, she distributed leftover bread from The Food Bank to the homeless.
So many people were fascinated hearing her survival stories of the Great Depression, the orphanage, and several other challenging events that she was often asked to write a book. When asked where she got her radiant smile, boundless energy and high spirits she would simply say “Holy Communion.” May the light of The Holy Spirit surround and flow through us all.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 16, at 1 p.m. at Alameda Funeral and Cremation Services, 1415 Oak St. in Alameda.
For additional information contact Harry W. Greer, funeral director, FDR-745.
Alameda Funeral & Cremation Services 1415 Oak St., Alameda
522-6020 alamedafuneral.org
Resident of Alameda
Joan M. Stewart of Alameda, passed away peacefully Monday afternoon, May 4, 2015, at Kaiser Medical Center in Oakland from complications related to cancer treatment. She left this world surrounded by her husband, Rod, and daughters, Deb and Sue.
Born Johanna Marie on Nov. 26, 1939, in Misericordia Hospital, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada to Joseph and Anna Werner (nee Klym), Joan was the second of two children. Following her parents’ deaths, Johanna was adopted by a cousin and raised primarily in Duluth, Minn. In 1962, Joan met her future husband while working in public relations for U.S. Steel where Rod was on a job assignment with RCA. On Dec. 4, 1962, Joan and Rod were married in Duluth, and they soon moved to St. Joseph, Mich. for Rod’s job with RCA. Rod later took a position in the area with Whirlpool Corporation in Benton Harbor, Mich.
During their more than 35 years in the St. Joseph area, Rod and Joan raised two daughters: Sue and Deb. Rod and Joan were active members of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, each serving terms on the Vestry. Joan also taught Sunday school and served as editor of the church newsletter for several years. Joan was elected as the first-ever woman City Commissioner in St. Joseph, serving from 1981 to 1986. Joan was a successful area Realtor, becoming marketing partner with Dave Fister and later co-owner of Fister Better Homes & Gardens. She was awarded the President’s Cup by the S.W. Michigan Association of Realtors in recognition of her outstanding ethics.
After Rod’s retirement from Whirlpool, Rod, Joan and Deb moved to California in 1999. In 2007, Rod and Joan moved to San Diego to be near Sue who was assigned there with the Navy.
In 2013, Rod and Joan moved with Sue to the East Bay. During her time in California, Joan was a Realtor; a member of the Order of Saint Luke; on several neighborhood watch committees; wrote the newsletter for Rod and Joan’s condo association in San Diego; continuously helped the homeless; and enjoyed going to San Diego Padre games and San Diego Symphony concerts. Joan was known for her caring heart; sense of humor; love of music and dancing; and outstanding Christmas cookies. She was a great spouse, mother, and friend, and will be missed by all.
Joan was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Anna Werner; her brother Fred (Werner) Petersen; her adoptive parents Arne and Scheila Leskinen; her adoptive brother Fred Leskinen; her maternal grandparents, Fred and Mary Klym; her father-in-law Claude Stewart; her mother-in-law Eleanor Stewart; and her brother-in-law Andy Stewart.
She is survived by her husband Rod Stewart and daughter Sue Stewart of Alameda; her daughter Deb Stewart of Oak Park, Calif.; her adoptive brother Larry Leskinen of Ellsworth, Minn.; her adoptive sister Ann Bacon of Duluth; her brother-in law Bruce Stewart of Silver Lake, Calif.; her dog Jack and granddogs Daisey and Lucas; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, May 17, at 1:30 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, 1700 Santa Clara Ave. in Alameda. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joan’s name to the Food Pantry program at Christ Episcopal Church.
Please visit www.alamedafuneral.org to offer condolences or share a memory of Joan. For additional information, contact Harry W. Greer, funeral director, FDR-745.
Alameda Funeral & Cremation Services 1415 Oak St., Alameda
522-6020 alamedafuneral.org
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
