Obituaries

Lori Lynn Peterson, 57 of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away peacefully after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer on September 25, 2018.Lori was born on February 23, 1961 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Wilbert and Donna Runcorn. Lori and her family moved to Tucson, Arizona, in 1974, where she attended Sabino High School and began her artistic endeavors. In 1978, Lori’s...

Harry W. Kennedy, 87 of Phoenix. Our dear friend Harry flew peacefully into the arms of our Lord on Friday the 28th of September. He will always be remembered for his kind smiles, firm handshakes and hugs, and enormously generous spirit. Harry was a native of Phoenix and graduate of North High School. He spent nearly 30 years with the...

Charles E. Gutierrez passed away on September 26, 2018, in Phoenix. Charles was born in Phoenix on October 29, 1958. He is preceded in death by his mother Carmen. He is survived by his father Rudy, sister Sylvia and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Charles graduated from Desert Valley High School in 1975 in Phoenix. Charles served as a minister...

Marissa Roche Theisen – mother, grandmother, business owner, author, professor, philanthropic leader – died last Saturday at the age of 66 after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. She was born in Boston in 1952 to two social workers: John Francis Roche and Elizabeth Barbara Roche. One of six children, she was raised to believe in people and work toward...

Beverly Jean Strang Smith, born May 11, 1935, with great sadness died peacefully with her family by her side on September 25, 2018. Beverly was born in Wauwatosa, WI. She moved to Chicago as a young girl. She attended Amundsen High School, Northern Illinois Teachers College and University of Colorado Boulder and graduated with a B.A. in Education.She was a...

Rosemary M Reichenberger, 92, was called home to heaven on September 25, 2018. She was born to John and Florence Gill in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her family moved to Phoenix in 1928. After graduating from St. Mary’s High School and Phoenix College, she met the love of her life, Raphael “Ray” Reichenberger. They taught catechism together under Father Albert Braun....

Dr. John Phillip Heileman passed away on September 25, 2018. John, (Jack) was born on February 2, 1930, at the original St. Joseph’s Hospital on Polk Street in Phoenix, Arizona, to Leo and Rose Murphy Heileman. He attended ASU with a scholarship from Phelps-Dodge, graduating in 1951 with a B.S. in Chemistry. At ASU, he received the Moeur Award for...

Virginia Prado Antunez 88, our beloved mother went to be with our Lord, in her home in Phoenix, surrounded by her loved ones on Saturday, September 22, 2018. She was born on December 8, 1929 in Morrill, Nebraska to Eduviges and Anna Maria (Nicasio) Prado.Virginia attended school in Torrington Wyoming and worked alongside her family in the fields. She married...

Ivka Kusic, of Scottsdale, passed away on September 16, 2018. She was born January 25, 1931 in the town of Dakovo, Croatia. She immigrated to the United States April 30, 1959. She is survived by her four sons, John, Tony, Nick and Steve. She lived a full life and was loved by all who knew her. Also, she had five...

Our beloved wife, mother and grandmother, Helen Elaine Harbison Kroese, has passed on to her place in Heaven on September 15, 2018. We honor her strength, her indomitable spirit, and her boundless love for family and friends.Helen was a true, old fashioned Arizona lady, beautiful, smart, kind, caring, creative, talented and loving, from an early ranching family. She was born...

Christine H. Tseunis passed into the care of the Lord on September 12, 2018, following a brief illness. During her final days, she was surrounded by family and friends who expressed their concern, love and gratitude for a life well lived.Christine was born January 31, 1922 in New Brunswick, New Jersey, the second child of Marianthe and George Hioteles. A...

Earlene Barnard Refsnes passed away September 12, 2018. A native of Arizona, she was born to Earl E. and Lyndal Barnard in Tempe, AZ on February 6, 1928. She attended Kennilworth Grammar School, Phoenix Union High School and graduated from North High, class of 1945, where she dated Joe Refsnes. Joe joined the Navy, while Earlene attended the University of...

Esabel Lopez Larios, born February 8, 1964, passed away in Phoenix, AZ on Tuesday, September 11, 2018 at the age of 54. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, godmother and friend to many. She was a brilliant example of faith, love and strength. She valiantly fought cancer for the last four years. She loved spending time with her...

Helen LaVeta Hawkins, 91, passed away on September 6, 2018 in Tucson, Arizona. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri to Addison and Nellie Ringling. She moved to Phoenix with her parents as a toddler. She enjoyed playing violin and piano while growing up and even performed at the Orpheum Theatre with the Gene Bumph Dancers as a young teenager....

Emma “Lu” Houle, died September 11, 2018 with her sons by her side in Phoenix, AZ. She was born in 1936, in Linden, MI, to Charles and Theresa Donaven. Her parents were small business owners with a farm and butcher shop. After graduating college from the University of Detroit, Lu spent her life serving others. As a Papal Volunteer in...

Coker, Robert L. passed away in Phoenix, Arizona on September 10, 2018. He was born an only child in St. Louis, Missouri to Clayton Fenwick Coker and Rose Lee Bishop, Robert moved to Arizona after completing the second grade when he was eight years old. He graduated from Phoenix Technical High School. Robert made a career working at Mountain Bell...

Berlanti, Donald Victor, 80, of Paradise Valley, passed away on September 9, 2018. Donald was the Chairman of Quince Associates, a privately held investment company. Since approximately 1975, he has been involved in the ownership and operation of numerous businesses in segments that include broadcasting, restaurants, real estate development and management, retail gift shops and convenience stores. From 1993 until...

Nelda Irene Flesher Stultz, 92 of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away on Sunday, September 9, 2018. She was born on December 13, 1925 in Martinton, Illinois to Harry and Irene (Burger) Flesher. Nelda moved to Indiana where she graduated high school in 1944 and met the love of her life. She married Joe in 1945, moved to Arizona and welcomed their...

Age 78, of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away in Phoenix on September 6, 2018. She was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on July 10, 1940. She is survived by her two daughters, Sarah and Emily Mihaylo; three grandsons, Elijah, Michael, and Malachi and three siblings, Marjorie Sasaki, Jane Takata, and David Tomooka. A Visitation will be held at 11:30 a.m. with a...

Robert “Bob” Dreste was born January 12, 1936 in St. Louis to Lewis J. and Sybilla M. Dreste, and went to the Lord on September 6, 2018.  He moved to Phoenix in 1954.  He is survived by his lovely wife Betty of 60 years, sister Judy Greene, and brother-in-law Ed Salrin.  He is also survived by daughters Bonnie York and...