Nora Valencia Padilla Huckestein
Nora Valencia Padilla Huckestein, a 29-year resident of Pleasanton, died of cancer on Feb. 7.
She was born Sept. 11, 1939, in Cali, Colombia.
She was considered by all to be kind, non-judgmental, overtly friendly, gregarious, superb, meticulous, a Virgo, free spirited, extremely giving and fun. Her hobbies included shopping, dancing, conversing, cleaning and gardening. She was a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church and Women’s Club. She was employed by Mervyns and Macys as a gift wrapper.
She is survived by her husband of 41 years, James Lawrence Huckestein of Pleasanton; parents Flor Padilla and Antonio Valencia; son Larry James Huckestein; daughter Michelle Ann Arden and her husband Mitch Wayne Arden of Colorado; sister Amparo Osokow of Los Angeles; brother Antonio Valencia of Florida; granddaughter Marisa Flor Arden; and five nephews.
A memorial mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, Feb. 17 at St. Augustine Catholic Church, 3999 Bernal Ave., Pleasanton. Inurnment will be at St. Augustine Cemetery.
Donations may be made to Hope Hospice, 6500 Dublin Blvd., Dublin, 94568.
Joyce Marie Frederick
Joyce Marie Frederick died Jan. 17 at the age of 72 at her home in Discovery Bay.
She was born June 27, 1934 in Lakewood, Ohio, graduating from Bay Village High School and attending Miami University of Ohio and Ohio State University. She moved to California in 1958 with her husband and earned an associate’s degree in interior design from CaÒada College in Woodside, Calif. She lived in many Bay Area cities including Pleasanton where she lived for 11 years.
She was a devoted Christian who was involved in the building of three churches, taught Sunday school, played the organ and taught Junior Choir for many years. She also taught swimming to handicapped children at Hamilton Air Force Base and ran a swimming school for the Red Cross. She raised funds for the Sunny Hills Service, an organization in Marin County dedicated to helping children. Along with her husband, John, she served as a Deacon at the Menlo Presbyterian Church for three years and was conference coordinator at the Hoover Institute at Stanford University for 10 years where she hosted events for presidents, senators, congressmen, ambassadors and other dignitaries from around the world.
She is remembered as a loving person who was very gregarious and friendly with everyone she met. She had a way of always making people feel comfortable and welcome. She had her own style and was not afraid to follow her own instincts about fashion, decorating, and entertaining.
She is survived by her husband of 50 years, John Fredrick; sons Brad and Curt Frederick; daughter-in-law Lesa; and one grandchild.
Visitation and funeral services were held at Graham-Hitch Mortuary. Donations may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Sunny Hills Children’s Garden, 300 Sunny Hills, San Anselmo, CA 94960.
Marjorie Joan Perry
Marjorie Joan Perry died Dec. 31 at her home in Pasadena at the age of 87.
She was born Oct. 20, 1918 in San Francisco and was the daughter of a Sunol ranching family whose heritage dates to the 1800s. She attended Sunol Glen Elementary School, Amador Valley High School and College of the Holy Names in Oakland. She later entered the Dominican Order in Mission San Jose. As a Dominican Nun, she taught English and art until health issues resulted in a dispensation of convent life. She entered the business world as a secretary for Culver Heaton Architectural Firm and Pasadena jet propulsion lab.
She enjoyed writing in her journal or about the champion causes of the day, engaging in lively communication with institutions and prominent individuals. She loved animals, playing and viewing tennis and baseball, fashion, art, gardening and discussing politics and social events.
She is survived by her sister Gloria Fuller Zeers and many nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Anna Perry, and sister Eldora Peters.
Visitation and vigil services were held at Graham-Hitch Mortuary and a Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic church. Burial is at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward. Donations may be made to the Humane Society, English Department scholarships or the charity of your choice.
