Obituaries

Crowley, Philip Andrew 74, of Phoenix died on December 25, 2020. He was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on August 21, 1946 to Bernard & Mary Crowley. His family moved to the Phoenix area in 1955. Phil graduated from Camelback High School in 1964. Phil was retired from his career with the State of Arizona. In 1972 Phil married his...

Constantine “Dean” Tsantilas, passed away in the early hours of Christmas morning on December 25, 2022, at the age of 92. He was born July 24, 1930 in Monessen, Pennsylvania. Shortly after his birth, his family was moved to what would become his childhood hometown; Cleveland, Ohio.In Cleveland, Dean was an avid runner and active in track in high school...

Charles Alvin was born on August 3, 1934, to Frederick Alvin and Grace (Grant) Merrick in Osceola, Nebraska. When Charles was a young boy, the family moved to Fairbury, Nebraska, where he attended both Elementary and High School. After graduating High School, Charles took a summer job at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Upon returning to...

Helene Jo “Jody” Bloemer passed away peacefully on December 26, 2022 at the age of 84. Born on December 25, 1938 in Batesville, Indiana, she moved to Arizona at age 7 in 1945 with her brother (Stewart) and parents (Frank and Emma) who ran Frank’s Pharmacy in Phoenix for many years. She attended St. Mary’s High School and Arizona State...

Dennis Raymond Fitchner passed away December 24, 2022. He was 64 years old and a Phoenix native. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He also loved his dogs and his family. Dennis is survived by his wife Diana, son Ryan, daughter Amy (Jesse North) and grandson Payton. His sisters Bonnie Hanen, Diana Ragsdale (James) and Cindy Soqui (Vince). As...

September 24, 1956 – December 21, 2022Randolph (Randy) Huber, 66, of Phoenix, AZ, passed away peacefully into the arms of our Lord on Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at the Ryan House Hospice Facility in Phoenix. His sister held his hand as he took his last breath here on earth and then, immediately, entered eternal life in heaven with Jesus Christ....

Judy T. Mada, 55, of Phoenix passed away Sunday, December 18, 2022. Judy has reunited with parents John O. Mada and Maria M. Laguna and brother John M. Mada. She is survived by her daughter Esther, sons John Christopher, Armando, Alfred Jr. and Raymond, 11 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild, sister Josie Mada and brothers Bernardo Jr., Gabriel, and Javier Espinoza...

August 24, 1954- December 25, 2022Mark Scott Hester of Phoenix, Arizona passed away on December 25, 2022, at his home surrounded by family. Mark was born in Phoenix, Arizona as a third-generation native from a pioneer family that preceded Arizona’s statehood. Mark attended Kaibab and Kiva grade schools, Brophy and Saguaro high schools, Western State College (Gunnison, CO), and the...

Edwin F. Cathcart, Jr, age 78, passed away on December 7, 2022. He was surrounded by loved ones until the end. So many people will always remember him as a loving husband, father, and grandpa.Ed (Ned to family growing up) was born in Ohio. He spent most of his youth in Bay Village until he moved to Williamsville, near Buffalo...

David W. Graef, Ph.D., age 93 passed away peacefully on December 18, 2022. Dave was born on September 20, 1929 in Chicago, Illinois to Henry and Dorothea Graef. Dave graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1951. While at Nebraska he lettered and played on the basketball team. Following graduation, Dave enlisted in the United States Air Force and served...

Christina Vila passed away peacefully on December 18, 2022 in her hometown of Phoenix, Arizona, at the age of 89.Christina was born on March 24, 1933, to Susano and Trina Armola. She spent her childhood years in Tempe Arizona, attending Tempe’s grammar and high school. Christina is preceded in death by the love of her life and Husband Manuel. They...

Irene, Mom, or G-ma as she was known to be called, was born in Chicago, IL on May 27, 1921. She left us peacefully on December 16, 2022. There’s not a chance in the world that her life, loves, passions, and accomplishments can be wrapped up in a few sentences, or even a book. Instead, Google what’s happened in the...

Margaret A. George passed away with her family at her side on a sunny afternoon in Phoenix, Arizona on Friday, November 25, 2022.Margaret was born on February 13, 1937 in Howard County, Iowa to Veronica (Polansky) and Henry Smith. She was very proud of her Czech, Irish and German ancestry and was the second born of seven children. She graduated...

Rick Lee, 68, of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away on December 11, 2022 at home surrounded by his loving family after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born in Flushing, New York on February 24, 1954. Rick grew up in Stamford, Connecticut and went to The University of Connecticut on a football scholarship. After graduation, he followed his future wife,...

Patrick A. Brady, 80, died on Monday December 12, 2022 losing his battle with cancer. He was born in Queens, NY on August 8, 1942, to Hugh and Margaret Brady. He moved to Phoenix after being stationed at Luke Air Force Base following his tour in Vietnam. He then went on to become a Glendale Police Officer and a dedicated...

Barbara Jean (née Avelar) Shrum, beloved Daughter, Sister, Cousin, Wife, Mother, Grandmother, and Friend, was called home to be with our Lord on December 8, 2022.She was born on September 14, 1958, to Gilbert H. Avelar and Ernestine O. Olmos. She is preceded in death by her father, Gilbert, step-father Richard, Uncle Neto, Godson Adrian, Sister-in-Law Peggy, and many more...

Billie Catherine McBride was born in Phoenix at Good Samaritan Hospital, on January 24, 1929, on the cusp of the Great Depression. Her parents were William Otha McBride and Bertha May Wallis McBride, who had relocated to Phoenix from Mississippi. Billie attended Wilson Elementary School, and Phoenix Union High School.On Valentine’s Day, 1946, Billie married Ray Hamm, Jr., after the...

Julia Alicia Galdos Lazo viuda de Valdivia, 94, passed away on November 29, 2022 surrounded by her family in Scottsdale, AZ.Julia was born in Arequipa, Peru on January 9, 1928 to Tomas Galdos and Manuela Lazo. Alicia is survived by her children; Percy (Maria) Valdivia, Soledad Valdivia, and Carlos (Teresa) Valdivia, as well as seven grandchildren; Randy, Bryan, & Alexander...

On the gate it said “Journey’s End” and Joan said, “We will have to think of a better name for our new home.” It was the oldest residence on Camelback Mountain, well known for a seasonal Merry Christmas sign visible across the Valley. Her husband Jim said “not me; this place will be the end of my journey” …. And...

Joseph “Jerry” Gough, 93, passed away December 4, 2022 in Phoenix, AZ. He was born May 26, 1929, in Detroit, Michigan, the son of James Gough and Mary Alvey. One of eight children, the family was very poor. Occasionally, the State of Michigan would remove the children from the family and place them temporarily into foster care. Despite this, he...