Obituaries

November 8, 2021 will be remembered as the day the larger-than-life Joe Ruguone left us to join friends, family and pets he adored who preceded him. He’s probably making them pizza or a big pot of spaghetti right now. He was the most fun, different, interesting grandpa on the planet, and everyone has a million stories about him. He is...

Felipe Leon Garcia, 91, Veteran of the Korean War, passed away surrounded by his loving family on October 16, 2021. He was the son of Jose and Julia Garcia of Ajo, Arizona, born on May 30, 1930 where he was one of 7 siblings. Before joining the army, Felipe was a true athlete in high school and throughout his life...

Eileen (Brick) Crane passed away November 1, 2021 in Phoenix Arizona. Eileen, “Tiny” to her childhood friends was born to Florence and William Brick in North Tonawanda, New York on September 17, 1926. She is survived by her sister Phyllis, sons Bill, Tom and Bob and daughter Yvette. Her son Paul preceded her in passing. Eileen was cared for by...

Andrea Rivera, mother of 4 children: Mary Ann, Raymond, Mark and (Gabriel now deceased), grandmother of 6 and great grandmother of 2. She was a huge LA Lakers fan and a fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Andrea was a softball manager for the Pico Rivera Bobby Sox Fastpitch League (back in the late 70s to early 80s). She loved...

Mrs. Maria T GrochowskiBy: Iwona (Evona) A. GrochowskiMaria was born In Warsaw, Poland on August 15, 1936 and passed away on October 24, 2021. She is survived by her only daughter Iwona.My mother was an extremely, extremely religious individual, who believed in God, and said her prayers, in front of a “Black Madonna” image, which she brought from grandmother’s house,...

Tom was born in New York City on March 9, 1938 to Marjorie Craig and Edward James Churchill. He passed away in Phoenix on November 2, 2021, after suffering from a stroke in July of 2020. Tom is survived by his dear wife, Martha (Muffie), three children: Catherine Churchill Coberly (Sterling), Ted Churchill (Sarah) and John Churchill (Dani) as well...

Esmeralda Bustos went home to be with the Lord and her husband Tony, Thursday, October 21, 2021 at age 96. She is survived by her three children, Olivia, Tony, and Janice, and their families including grandchildren & great grandchildren. An Arizona native, Esmeralda was a woman of quiet dignity, elegance, hospitality, and strong personal faith.  A natural storyteller, Nana shared...

Kent Anthony Murar Jr., age 49, passed away in the early hours of October 30th, 2021, He was born June 15, 1972, in Flint, Michigan to Kent Edward Murar and Linda Lucille Lundy.His life was a living example of Ephesians 4:32—“And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.”He is...

John Zlatich, formerly of Scottsdale, passed away on October 30, 2021. John was born in La Grange, Illinois on March 16, 1925 to Maria and Joseph Zlatich, immigrants from the former Yugoslavia. He attended grade school and high school in La Grange before entering the US Navy during WWII. Following his military service, he married Eileen Harris in 1946 and...

Barbara Elias Cox of Phoenix, Arizona passed away on October 26,2021. She was born on October 27, 1950 to Minnie and Richard Elias III. She was preceded in death by her husband Paul Sr. and son Paul Jr.  Barbara is survived by her daughters Stacie (Phil), Chrisy (Mike), and her 6 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. She loved being a...

February 18, 1939 – October 23, 2021James Robert Ziska, 82, passed away on Saturday, October 23, 2021. He was born in Chicago, IL. to Henry James and Adeline Margaret (Holmeier) Ziska on February 18, 1939. A celebration of life was held on Saturday, October 30, 2021 at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home in Phoenix, AZ.Jim graduated from Crystal Lake High...

Leonard Bianco “Leo” was born in the Bronx, New York on June 22, 1927 to Anna and Leonardo Bianco Sr. Surrounded by a large and loving Italian family, Leo enjoyed playing stickball in the streets, family dinners, and surviving long hot summer days with water sprayed from open hydrants was his way of life. The true talent of drawing and...

Barbara L. Wagner passed peacefully on October 27, 2021 to join her husband and daughter in Our Lord’s presence. Born May 15, 1936 in Patterson, British Columbia, Canada to Charles and Winifred Letoria. She was the middle child between her brothers Charles and Robert. Raised on a ranch in a rural valley on the US-Canadian border, where she survived a...

On Friday, October 22, 2021, Jeannette “Jean” Walker-Chambers, loving Mother of five children and four stepchildren, passed away at the age of 90. Preceded in death by husband Kenneth Chambers. She was an adoring proud Grandmother of twenty-two Grandchildren, a Great Grandmother of thirty-one and Great great Grandmother of two. Jeannette was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on March...

Rey David Javalera, 32, of Monte Vista Colorado, passed away on October 22, 2021, in Scottsdale, Arizona while at work.Rey David was born on May 5, 1989, to Cosme and Olga Javalera. In the last couple of months Rey was a teacher to many. His passion for life guided him on a journey to help others become a better person....

Here rests a handsome and amazing soul. Mr. William B. Shelby, 65 was born in Dayton Ohio on September 30, 1956 and transitioned in Phoenix, AZ on October 26, 2021. He was the son of the late Lucille Oliver Shelby and Thomas William “T.W.” Shelby. He leaves a brother, Thomas Oliver Shelby, 3 daughters, Lashelle Leonard, Starr Shelby, and Kyra...

Kristie Marie Flynn beloved daughter, granddaughter, sister, aunt, and fiancé passed on October 24, 2021, after enduring a long & courageous battle with breast cancer at the age of 36. Kristie was born in Massena, New York on November 15, 1984.Most of her high school years were spent at Windsor High School, in Windsor New York. In June 2000, her...

Jessica Lee Edgar, age 49, passed away peacefully October 25, 2021 after a months long battle, ultimately due to pneumonia and a subsequent case of sepsis. She was born on April 11, 1972, in Hyannis, Massachusetts to Jeffrey and Pamela. She was married and had two children, Samuel and Christian Mendoza.Jessica had a comical side and always made people laugh....

Sandra Elaine Barr (Barney), 86, passed away peacefully on October 19, 2021, to join her relatives and precious grandson, Andre LeBlanc. She is survived by Reginald E. Barr, her husband of 65 years, Debbie LeBlanc, her daughter, Drannan Hamby, her cousin, and many nieces and nephews.Sandra was born August 23, 1935, to William and Elaine Barney in Phoenix, AZ. She...

Sandra Pizzarello (b. 1933) was a brilliant scientist, wife, mother and grandmother. Her groundbreaking work with meteorites redefined the key to the origins of life before it began on earth (Science 1997). Dr. Pizzarello was well known as the co-discoverer, with Dr. John Cronin, of enantiomeric excesses in amino acids extracted from meteorites, and for studies of the origins of...