Obituaries

Alexandra “Alex” Sampson went to Heaven on March 28, 2021. Alex was a 17-year-old senior at Sunrise Mountain High School.Her passion for life and love for her family and friends were evident in her beautiful smile and vivacious personality. She will be forever in our hearts.Alex is survived by: her mother, Dimitra Hotis Sampson; father, James R. Samspon, Jr.; sister,...

Carole Jean Winiker Muir, born February 5, 1938, in Mojave, CA to James H. Winiker and Marietta Ritchie Winiker.Carole Muir passed peacefully at home on March 25, 2021 with beloved husband John Muir at her side.Carole’s earliest years were lived in the Philippine Islands where she and her family spent three years as Prisoners of War in the city of...

Ret. Deacon Joseph A. Lessard, 94, of Peoria, Arizona, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on Thursday, March 18, 2021. Joe was born on July 16, 1926 in Chelmsford, MA, the son of Leonile and Cora Lessard. His parents preceded him in death as did seven of his ten siblings: Edmond, Alfred, Rita, Doris, Esther, Yvette, and Jean....

August 6, 1961 ~ March 13, 2021Joseph Manuel Enriquez, 59 years, of Phoenix, AZ passed away on March 13, 2021. He was born in Phoenix, AZ to Joseph Enriquez and Frances Contreras.A visitation will be held on Thursday, April 1, 2021 from 4:00 – 6:00 PM at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. On Friday,...

October 27, 1931 ~ March 25, 2021Efren Renteria, 89, passed away on Thursday, March 25, 2021. He was born in Oxnard, CA to Librado and Maria Renteria. Efren proudly served in the United States Marines. A visitation will be held on Thursday, April 1, 2021 from 10:00 – 11:00 AM with a funeral service beginning at 11:00 AM at Whitney...

George “Tom” Simmons III was born on April 15, 1940 in St. Joseph, Missouri. He died on March 20, 2021 at the age of 80. Tom spent nearly 47 years in the Paradise Valley and Scottsdale communities, his presence is sure to be missed.Tom attended the University of Nebraska Lincoln playing collegiate basketball and was a member of Delta Tau...

Irene passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on March 10, 2021 leaving behind her son Dominique, mother Inez, and 4 brothers Robert, David, Daniel and Charlie to join her father in heavenly bliss. The Gomez Family takes comfort knowing that her soul is content, and she is not in pain. Irene is and always will be a mother, daughter, sister, an...

John Stewart Carlson, 67, left his home in Phoenix, AZ, for his eternal heavenly home on March 17, 2021. John was born on August 16, 1953 in Nogales, AZ, to Dr. John S. Carlson and Mrs. Marion (Stewart) Carlson. He passed peacefully with his wife at his side and surrounded by his loving family.After years of landscaping work and medical...

The Rev. Mr. Joseph Lessard was born on July 16, 1926 to Leo and Cora Lessard at their home in Chelmsford, MA. He was one of eleven children. Joseph joined the Navy on his seventeenth birthday and served his country in World War II in the South Pacific as a gunner on torpedo planes and reconnaissance aircraft. Joseph married his...

Jean F. Tollefsrud 89, a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, passed away peacefully on March 26, 2021 at the Sun Valley Heights Assisted Living Center in Scottsdale, Arizona. She was born on November 17, 1931 in International Falls, MN to Oscar and Eva LaFave. Jean was a graduate of Falls High School in International Falls. She married her...

On Monday, March 22, 2021, Sergio Eric Salazar (Ember), son, father, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend peacefully passed away at the age of 37, surrounded with love by family.Sergie attended St, Gregory’s Catholic School and International Commerce Secondary High School. He enjoyed listening to music, writing songs and poetry.He lived life to the fullest. He was a “chatterbox”, and...

Genevieve Canez-Aguilar passed away on Friday, March 19, 2021 at 9:31 pm. She was not in pain; she went in peace. We held her hand until the very end. She was surrounded with love from her daughters, sister, and father as she took her last breath. We are grateful for the time we had with her and she will forever...

Dr. Joseph Mathias Kennedy, MD passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his family. He was one of seven boys, born February 24, 1927 to Frank and Margaret Kennedy in Brooklyn, NY. After graduating from Mount Saint Michael Academy, Joe joined the United States Army in 1945 and was discharged due to the end of WWII. With the aid...

William “Bill” E. McGuire passed away on March 16, 2021 at the age of 82. Born December 11, 1938 in St Joseph, MO to Joseph Martin and Willie Belle (Pierce) McGuire, Bill was the youngest of five children and is preceded in death by his parents, his oldest sister, Jo and his youngest brother, Jack. Bill is survived by his...

November 26, 2007 ~ March 19, 2021Today, we celebrate the life of Lilly who was born November 26, 2007.  Although the heavens called for an Angel oh so soon, we celebrate that her journey is just beginning. From the day Lilly entered this world she was one of a kind. We will always remember her big, beautiful green and blue...

Curtis Johnson passed away early on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2021, in his home in Phoenix, AZ. Curtis was born in Phoenix on June 19, 2005 to his mother Amy Lee Johnson and his father Stephen Chylko. He was taken far too soon and will be missed by all who knew him.Curtis was a sophomore attending Accelerated Learning Center....

1962-2021Tom Graham passed away unexpectedly on March 6th, 2021, in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was born in Phoenix, Arizona, on April 5, 1962 to Betsy and Bill Graham. Tom attended Madison Simis Elementary School, Brophy College Preparatory (Class of 1980), and The University of Arizona (Class of 1984). After graduation, he worked with his father, Bill, in real estate. He then...

Mary Vejar, 70, of Phoenix, Arizona passed away on March 7, 2021. Mary is survived by her partner Salvador Hurtado, her grandchild Monique and great-grandchildren Breanna and Raymond Jr. and by her siblings Irene, Esther, Nina, Lupe, Fernando and Simon. She was a strong woman who gave unconditionally to her family and friends. Mary’s favorite things to do were shopping...

Deborah Nelson Lukas, age 67 of Fountain Hills, and formerly Scottsdale, passed away after a brief illness on March 11, 2021. Debbie was born January 28, 1954 in Alamogordo, New Mexico at Holloman Air Force Base to Vern and Diane Nelson of Olathe, KS.Debbie grew up in Olathe, KS until she graduated in 1972 from Olathe High School. She married...

February 3rd, 1947 – March 7th, 2021Our dedicated and loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend passed peacefully in his home in Scottsdale after battling prostate cancer, bladder cancer, and melanoma for many years.Charles (or Charlie or Chuck) was the second child in a family of three born in Akron, OH and raised in Cuyahoga Falls, OH. Charlie’s early years...