Obituaries

Robert “Bobby” Padilla, 65, was called home October 24, 2021.He was born December 8, 1955 in Phoenix, Arizona to Alex and Bertha Padilla. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Richard, his first wife Lupe and granddaughter Serenity.He is survived by his second wife Terri, his only daughter Roberta (Annette), his grandson Richard, his sister Priscilla, brother...

Mr. Lynn Arlen Hammargren, age 64, passed away peacefully at home on November 10, 2021. He was born in Riverton, Wyoming on May 16, 1957, to Glen Hammargren and Nancy Morgan (nee: Paulsen). Mr. Hammargren was a real cowboy and enjoyed rodeo competitions like bull riding, bareback and saddleback riding and moved to Lubbock, Texas to pursue such passion. He...

Patrick “Pat” Tyson – 45 of Phoenix, AZ passed away on November 4, 2021. Pat was born in Petosky, MI and lived in Cheboygan, MI until the age of two when the family moved to Arizona. Pat Graduated from Arcadia High School in 1995 and from Beloit College in 1999.Pat was a loving father of Addison, a grateful son of...

Michael Anthony Chavez passed away on November 5, 2021, at the age of 69. Michael was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona where he attended Immaculate Heart Catholic School, St. Mary’s High School and Phoenix College. After college, Michael served 12 years in both the US Air Force and Arizona Air National Guard. While serving in the US Air Force,...

Charles “Charlie” Abraham was an amazing husband, father, grandfather, sibling, relative, friend to many and wonderfully astute business leader. He left this world on Saturday, November 6, 2021, at the age of 86, after a lengthy battle with West Nile Virus.Charlie was born to Najeeb and Adele Abraham on July 1, 1935 in Litchfield Park, AZ. He attended St. Francis...

The servant of God John W. Benza fell asleep in the Lord on November 5, 2021. John was born in 1937 in Pennsylvania and raised in Ohio. He is survived by his bride of 53 years, Jill K. and his adult children: sons John M. and his wife Danyelle, Jeffrey and his wife Holly and daughter Jill Natasha. John was...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...