Kathleen Goldman-Bodnar (Szakacs)
Kathleen Goldman, age 88, passed away on Wednesday, November 25, 2015. She was born to the late Joe Szakacs and Annie Szabo on November 13, 1927 in Hodod, Romania. Her family moved to Harrow, Ontario and began farming vegetables and tobacco. On November 1, 1949 Kathleen married the late George Bodnar. They had three girls and moved to Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Kathleen owned and operated a very successful hair salon business in Windsor, Ontario for many years. She was always very active and loved to dance and listen to music. Kathleen preferred to travel to warm climates and often vacationed in Florida and Arizona. She eventually retired in Sun Lakes, Arizona where she took up tennis and enjoyed water aerobics. She had a wonderful way with plants and enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.
Kathleen was the beloved mother of Linda Tayles and her husband Greg, Kathy Burstyn and her husband Sanford, and Debbie Carwitz and her husband David who all reside in Arizona. Dear grandmother of Jason Tayles, Benjamin and Abby Burstyn and Wyatt and Kylie Carwitz. Loving great grandmother of Bailee Tayles. Predeceased by her sisters, Mary Szakacs, Ann Armstrong-Balazs, Susie Balog and brother Joe Szakacs. She also leaves behind many caring relatives and friends.
Kathleen requested a private funeral with her family. The family wishes to thank all of those who cared for her over the last six months. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Sun Lakes Methodist Church at 9248 E. Riggs Road, Sun Lakes, Arizona 85248.
Lucille “Lou” Macedo
Lucille “Lou” Macedo, 78, of Sun Lakes, passed away on October29, 2015. After a long battle with cancer, she went to be with Our Lord. It is with a heavy heart that we bid farewell to her.
Lou was born March 18, 1937 in Fall River, Massachusetts. She graduated from BMC Durfee High School in Fall River in 1954. She married Ray Macedo in 1956. Ray and Lou moved to Tempe, Arizona in 1971, and then to Sun Lakes in 1993.
Lou participated in many activities in Sun Lakes; Lady Putters, billiards, bunco, hand and foot, and Mah Jongg. She also enjoyed RVing with Ray, traveling across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Lou was an accomplished artist who worked in many mediums, including oils, watercolors, reverse painting on glass and painting on ceramics. Many of her art works adorn their home in Sun Lakes.
Lou is survived by her husband of 60 years, Ray; her son, Jeff; and her daughter-in-law, Beth. She was a very caring and giving person who was always willing to help anyone in need. She will be missed by all who knew her.
Buehler Mortuary in Chandler handled the funeral arrangements. Lou’s final resting place was in Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Mesa, Arizona.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Lucille’s name to the Arizona Humane Society at 1521 W. Dobbins Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85041 or the American Cancer Society (please specify Multiple Myeloma research) at 4550 E. Bell Road, No. 126, Phoenix, Arizona 85032.
Monica Jay Mills
On Wednesday, November 18, Monica Mills of Sun Lakes, AZ passed away peacefully at home with her husband of 45 years by her side. She had battled pancreatic cancer for five months. Monica is survived by her husband, Frank; and sons, David (Jodi) of Mesa AZ, and Patrick (Tanya) of Los Angeles, CA; her four grandchildren Reid, Evan, Nora, and Oliver; her brother Woody (Esther) Fox of Houston, TX; her sister Leslie Tjarks of Denver, CO and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Monica was a new resident of Sun Lakes having moved from Dallas TX one year prior to her passing to be near her children and grandchildren. She was a member of Alma School Road Church of Christ and was actively involved in Neighbors Who Care. She enjoyed volunteering, travel, Zumba, Fun Lakers Club, Mah Jongg, bocce ball, bicycling and walking the beautiful Sun Lakes neighborhood. She enjoyed participating in the lives of her grandchildren in Arizona and California. Monica had a beautiful heart and loved her family. She was gregarious and a friend to all. Monica loved to entertain, welcoming people into her home.
Monica was a graduate of Texas Woman’s University in Denton, TX. After dedicating her time to raising David and Patrick to school age, she worked as Director of a Mother’s Day Out in Dallas, and as a bookkeeper to assist in putting her boys through private school and college.
A celebration of her life was held in the chapel at The Valley of the Sun Mortuary and at the Skillman Ave Church of Christ, Dallas, TX on December 12.
In lieu of flowers a donation may be made to Neighbors Who Care, 10450 E. Riggs Rd, No. 113, Sun Lakes, AZ 85248 or to Program for Humanitarian Aid, POB 93794, South Lake, TX 76092.
LeAnne June Quimby
Our sister, mother and forever friend, LeAnne June Quimby, went to Heaven, Monday morning, November 23, 2015.
LeAnne, following her sisters Roberta and Marlene, was born to Robert and Lillian Willette on June 2, 1942. She grew up in her beloved town of Lemmon, South Dakota where she graduated from Lemmon High School. As an elegant young lady, she was crowned in high school and many times later with philanthropic organizations.
After attending a medical trade school in Minnesota, she moved to Oregon, threw in a little sky-diving, got married and had three daughters: Shannon, Stephenie and M’Leesa. Her life’s journey took her from Portland to Pendleton, Oregon (working at InterPath Laboratories) and back to Portland (working at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oregon). In 1991 she moved to Arizona, first to Scottsdale and then to Sun Lakes, to begin her profession as a successful realtor. She loved all things domestic: interior decorating, gardening, canning, baking and sewing, all self-taught. LeAnne’s most treasured talent, however, was bringing people together. Through her endless hours of volunteerism, strong work ethic and coordinating gatherings that always ended in laughter, she was truly one-of-a kind.
LeAnne served as a volunteer with the Sun Lakes Fire Department’s Community Assistance Program from 2003 to 2010 where her warm comforting nature was a natural fit in their Crisis Response unit. That same outgoing personality served her well as CAP’s Chairperson for new recruitment.
Throughout her life she made the kind friendships that we all desire and she will be missed by so very many. She is survived by her sister Marlene, her daughter M’Leesa, her daughter Shannon (husband Glenn) Hoffinger and grandson Chase, and her daughter Stephenie (husband Tim) Curtiss and grandchildren Lauren, Elizabeth and Beau. Please make LeAnne smile by raising a glass in her honor and living your life to your full potential. If you would like to make a donation, please do so in her name to your cherished organization. And as LeAnne always said “Make it a great day.”
James Allan Smith
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Jim Smith after losing a courageous battle with cancer. He was predeceased by Mary, his wife of 54 years, and son, Allan. Jim will be lovingly remembered by his children, Don (Shirley), Randy and Mary Lou (Kevin) Jaansalu; grandchildren, Kelsie, Mark, Michael and Matthew, along with several nieces and nephews. Jim will also be missed by his good friend, Lynne Bowers.
Jim and Mary were longtime residents of Sun Lakes, having built their home in 1983 and were one of many Canadian snowbirds that loved the warm Arizona winters. They quickly made many lifetime friends in Sun Lakes and enjoyed playing “Kitchen Bridge” with the many friends and acquaintances they made. Mary, who has been lovingly missed since her passing in 2008, loved to play tennis at the Cottonwood Palo Verde courts.
Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan but growing up on a nearby farm in Naicam, Jim graduated from Tech Collegiate in Saskatoon and the Ford Trade School in Windsor, Ontario where he pursued a career as a tool and die maker. Meeting, and eventually marrying Mary in Windsor, they returned to Saskatoon in the late 1950s to raise their family. It was at this time that Jim joined his brother, Bud (Joanne), also longtime residents of Sun Lakes, in the operation of a very successful farm machinery business, Suburban Supply Limited.
Jim was affectionately referred to as “Mr. Fix-It.” He always had a project on the go, whether it was trying to shorten the “honey do” list for Mary or fixing or building something for a friend or neighbor. While in Sun Lakes, he also applied his carpentry skills helping to build houses for Habitat for Humanity. Jim was an original member of the Model Aeronautics Association of Canada, proudly maintaining his membership number of 18. When his garage door was open he could often be found at his workbench meticulously building his latest radio controlled airplane. Jim was also a founding member of the Saskatoon Sailing Club. His leadership and commitment to both the sailing cub and the Hub City Radio Control Club helped to build the sports of competitive sailing and model airplane pylon racing throughout the Canadian prairie provinces.
The family has chosen to celebrate Jim’s life at a future date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Habitat for Humanity or the SPCA.
Frank N. Sipes
Frank N. Sipes, age 85, of Sun Lakes passed away November 16, 2015 in Chandler. He was born in Beardstown, IL, a son of Norman and Margene Sipes. He grew up in Bloomington, IL where he attended and graduated from Bloomington schools. He attended Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan University. He was a veteran of the US Navy (Korean War). He married Phyllis Ambrose on July 2, 1954. He was a 30-year letter carrier for the Bloomington Post Office and upon his retirement the couple moved to Mesa, AZ. He then spent 20 years as a bus driver for Mesa Unified Schools. He is survived by his wife; sons Stan (Lisa) of Scottsdale, James (Ellen Jo) of Bloomington, Gordon K. (Antonia) of San Clemente, CA; grandchildren Melissa (Chris) Miller, Patty (Dan) Croft, Katie Sipes, Tyler Sipes, Jackson Sipes, Sean Sipes, Rachel Sipes, Paul and Greg Perazella; and five great grandchildren. His parents, brother Gordon L. and sister Barbara Young pre-deceased him.
A Celebration of Life was held at Lakeshore Mortuary in Mesa on November 24 with military honors; interment was on November 25 at National Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Phoenix. The family requested donations to Hospice of the Valley, 1188 N. Dobson Rd., Chandler, 85224 in lieu of flowers.