Obituaries

77, died on November 10, 2014. Services were held privately by the family. Jackie was born April 14, 1937 in Chicago to William and Therese (nee DeCoste) O’Gara. The oldest of eight children, Jackie was deeply involved in raising her younger siblings. On February 11, 1956, she married her childhood sweetheart, Raymond J. Slomski. Ray was irresistibly drawn to her...

41, of Tempe, AZ, passed away on November 7, 2014. She was born to Gilbert and Rosalie Montanez in Phoenix, AZ on June 5, 1973. She attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel School and then went on to graduate from Tempe High School. Julie loved her family and enjoyed spending time with her son, nieces, and nephews. Julie is survived...

93, of Mount Claret Retreat Center, Phoenix, AZ, died peacefully at his residence on Thursday, November 6, 2014.Born September 3, 1921 in County Cavan, Ireland to Rose and Peter McMahon. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Bernard and Peter, sisters Rose, Margaret and Kathleen. Msgr, John is survived by his sister Mary (McMahon) Duke, 12 nephews...

Frank Burton “Burt” Whitman, Jr, 85, of Gilbert, AZ, formerly of Bloomington, passed away peacefully October 30, 2014, at Chandler, AZ, after a recent illness. Services will be arranged at a later time. Burt was born Jan. 10, 1929, in Normal, IL, attended Normal Community High School and Illinois Wesleyan University before marrying Mary Katherine “Katie” O’Rourke on May 29,...

Beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, Janet Ann Violette (Riley), age 71, passed away at her Phoenix home surrounded by loved ones on October 31, 2014. Janet was born to Earl Riley, Sr. and Clara DiCaire on November 23, 1942 in New Britain, Connecticut. She and her husband Raymond I. Violette were married for 52 years on October 20th of this...

Marian Bennetts Sanderson passed away on November 2.  She was born on April 30, 1923 in Detroit, Michigan and relocated to Phoenix with her family in 1960.  Marian was a wonderful wife and mother of four children.  She led an active life, volunteering for many years on the St. Joseph’s Hospital Women’s Auxiliary.  She served as vice-president as well as...

“Gerry,” 82, passed away on November 1, 2014. Born on March 1, 1932, in Manchester, N.H., Gerry earned his undergraduate degree from St. Anselm’s College. Following two years in the Army, stationed at Fort Huachuca, Gerry graduated with Masters Degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY and Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ. Before moving his family to Phoenix...

Betty Keefe, 91, of Phoenix, AZ, peacefully passed away on Monday, October 27, 2014, while surrounded by family and loved ones. Betty was preceded in death by her husband William, son Kelly, and daughter Peggy Keefe-Walsh.   She is survived by her children Mike, Steve, Patricia Guzman, Peter, Rob, and Tom, 15 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and sister Barbara Arends.   Betty was...

Richard S. Leopold, known by his friends as “Dick”, went on to enjoy classic jazz with all the saints on October 23, 2014. His lifelong passion for classic jazz music was well known by all those music lovers across Arizona.Dick was a WW II Army Medic. After returning to civilian life he graduated from University of Pennsylvania. Many years later...

60, passed away peacefully on October 21st, 2014 at Good Samaritan hospital surrounded by family. He was born and raised in Arizona. Pete loved to hunt, fish, golf and spend time with his family and friends. Pete was preceded in death by his father, Vernon Pierce Brubaker II. He is survived by Joyce Stewart; his mother, Patricia Miller; brother, Pierce...

90, passed away on October 27, 2014. Antonia was born on All-Saints Day, November 1, 1923, in Jerome, Arizona to Jose and Guadalupe Garcia. After her father died in 1932, she and her mother and brother, Jose, moved to Prescott, Arizona where she attended school. She met and married Jose J. Garcia in Prescott. They had five children, Jose (Rosalia),...

87, of Phoenix, passed away peacefully on October 27, 2014. She was born in Erie, PA on January 17, 1927, the 2ndchild of Joseph and Delphine (a member of the Seneca Indian Tribe). Alma married Albert J. Sitter on August 12, 1948, a union that lasted 60 years. They moved from Pennsylvania to Arizona in 1963.After being a full time...

Dr. John R. Crowell passed away peacefully at his summer home in Pinetop, Arizona on October 18, 2014. He was born on October 22, 1937 to Raymond Leroy Crowell and Alice Hill Crowell in Carbondale, Illinois. He is preceded in death by his wife Lynda in 2001 and his sister Ann Bruner in 2011. He is survived by his brother...

86, wife of the late Leo A. Simpson, passed away peacefully on October 25, 2014. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who had devoted her life to creating a loving home. She had a huge heart, was extremely giving and had the ability to make each child and grandchild feel they were her favorite. Her laugh was...

92, passed away on October 13, 2014. Belva spent her childhood years in Ashland, Kentucky in a loving home. She was married to her childhood sweetheart, Emil Green, in 1938 and moved to Phoenix around 1956. They were married 70 happy years.Belva deeply loved Jesus and her family. She devoted most of her married life to family and church, serving...

94 of Phoenix, Arizona passed away on the morning of October 22, 2014. She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Robert Ronald Pullen in 2003.She is survived by two sons, Randy (Katherine), Ron (Karen), grandson Travis and great granddaughter Portia.Mae, as she liked to be called, was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin to Harry and Amanda...

94, was born in Phoenix, Arizona on September 26, 1920. Her parents, H. Bernard Hughes and Cecilia Kelly Hughes were pioneer Arizona cattle ranchers in the Sunflower, Four Peaks area of the Tonto National Forest. Her children continue to be involved in the operations of the Circle Bar Ranch.Mary attended St. Mary’s grammar and high school in Phoenix and mastered...

66 of Phoenix, died October 16, 2014, at home with loved ones by his side. He was born August 13, 1948 in Fort Jackson, South Carolina to Glen and Katherine Kasl. They moved to Arizona in 1957. In 1967 Carl joined the United States Navy and was honorably discharged in 1971.During this time he traveled to several countries in Southeast...

passed away on October 13, 2014 surrounded by his devoted wife and best friend of more than 45 years, Sanda, and their two daughters, Kristin and Kaitlin, as well as his son Chris and daughters Kathy and Karen from his prior marriage.  Hugh was born on April 23rd, 1927 in Worthington, Indiana to Hubert and Leona Kelly who preceded him...

86, of Flagstaff, AZ passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, October 16, 2014. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Oscar Espinoza, daughters, Evelyn (Art), Anna Marie (Cruz) grandchildren, Maryann, Oscar, Milinda, Jesus DeAngelo, Mia, Olivia and Roman, great-grandchildren, Orlando and Kingston, and sister Lupe Anaya. She is preceded in death by her brother Trini Gil. A...