In Passing

Beverly Cross Bender

Beverly Cross Bender of Sun Lakes, Arizona, passed away on November 19, 2016.

She was born in upstate New York on October 19, 1922, and graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in home economics. On July 21, 1945, she married Bob, her childhood sweetheart. She lived and worked in Fayetteville, New York before retiring to Arizona. She is survived by her husband, Robert F. Bender, children, Susan Bennett, Carol Bender, Donna (Arthur) Meyers and Douglas Bender, nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She was an excellent cook, enjoyed sewing, square dancing and volunteering at the Chandler Hospital. No services are planned at this time. Donations in her name may be made to the Sun Lakes United Church of Christ, 25635 S. Country Club Drive, Sun Lakes, Arizona 85248, or Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85014.

Valley of the Sun Mortuary is entrusted with arrangements.

Arrangements under the direction of Valley of the Sun Mortuary and Cemetery, Chandler, Arizona.

William Lawrence Cavanaugh

William Lawrence Cavanaugh, 87, of Highlands Ranch, Colorado passed away October 27, 2016 at his winter home in Sun Lakes, Arizona with family at his side.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Carole Ann (Fox) Cavanaugh (2011). Bill and Carole raised their family of three sons in Elmhurst, Illinois; W. Michael Cavanaugh, Mark Peter Cavanaugh and Philip John Cavanaugh.

Bill was born September 21, 1929 in Rockford, Illinois to William G. Cavanaugh and Blanche L. (Cook) Cavanaugh, their only child. He grew up in the Rockford area excelling at baseball, ice-skating, golf and school. He graduated from West Rockford High School in 1947. While still in high school, he was highly recruited by the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs and New York Giants as a pitcher. After much consideration and persuasion by his parents, he instead attended the University of Illinois – Champagne Urbana where he attained a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management in 3-1/2 years. After graduation in 1951 he served in the Army for two years as a C.I.C. Intelligence Officer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he met his wife, Carole. Bill and Carole married July 18, 1953 and shortly afterwards Bill began employment with Sears, Roebuck and Co. in their Management Training Program. While living in Milwaukee they started a family, blessed with children Michael (1954) and Mark (1957). In 1963 Bill’s career with Sears brought the family to Elmhurst, Illinois and the family grew with the addition of Philip (1964). Bill was a loving and devoted husband and father active with the three boys and their many activities including coaching one or more baseball teams for over 10 years straight, scouting, camping and traveling. He loved to discover new things and places with Carole and “the boys.”

In 1988 Bill retired from Sears and moved to Colorado to be near his sons and grandchildren. The grandchildren became a big focus of their life, attending school programs, sporting events and celebrating special occasions and holidays. While in Colorado, Bill and Carole enjoyed skiing, golfing, dancing, reading, attending professional hockey and baseball, collecting art, and attending performing arts shows. He also worked with son Philip at his printing business many years. Through golf at Pinehurst and Columbine Country Club they made many friends and honed their golfing skills, collecting several championship trophies. When the snow arrived in Colorado, most years they would take off for warmer weather to enjoy the change of scenery and golf in Texas or Arizona.

Bill is survived by his three sons, Michael of Kittredge, CO; granddaughter Kaitlin, and great grand-daughter Cassidy, Mark (Valerie) of Littleton, CO; granddaughters Alison and Hilary, Philip (Amy) of Highlands Ranch, CO; grandchildren Joseph and Sarah.

Family, friends and neighbors remember Bill as a generous and gracious gentleman with a ready smile. A memorial service was held November 12, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Luke’s United Methodist Church in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Marlene “Peggy” Davis

Marlene “Peggy” Davis, age 82, passed away peacefully at her home in Sun Lakes, Arizona Friday, November 11, 2016. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wilbur (Webb) Davis in 2004. She is survived by her sons, Douglas (Aimee) of Fort Wayne, IN, Jeff (Connie) of Kimmell, IN, and five grandchildren, Kelly Davis, Kristine (Landon) Steury, Jeffery (Jodi) Davis, Ashley Davis and Michael (Jenifer) Davis. She also was blessed with four great-grandchildren with another one on the way. She is also survived by her brother, Bill (Joyce) Heller, nephew David Heller and nieces, Debi Ramirez and Deanna Marshall.

She was born in Dayton, Ohio to Marvin and Marguerite Heller. She married Webb in 1953 and moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1955 where Webb was employed by Indiana and Michigan Electric Company.

She was a housewife and stay-at-home mom until the kids were in school and then worked at various jobs until they retired and moved to Sun Lakes in 1990.

She and Webb played golf both together and in the ladies’ and men’s leagues. They traveled the West together and also took several cruises and trips around the world. They took pleasure in the care of their home and yard together until Webb’s death in 2004. They were members of the Rock and Gem Club for many years. Peggy spent her last 12 years exercising in the pool, making jewelry and also stained glass items. She took care of her dog, Minnie, taking her on daily walks around the lakes. She was a big fan of the Phoenix Suns and enjoyed watching their games. She spent a lot of time in her backyard enjoying the fruits of her gardening labors. She had many friends and good neighbors and belonged to a widow’s group who attended many functions together.

There will be no memorial services in Arizona. Their wishes are for their ashes to be taken to San Diego where they loved to vacation to escape the hot Arizona summers. There will be a small private memorial service as their ashes are spread in the ocean sometime in January.

Frank DiFrancesco

Frank DiFrancesco, a 25 year resident of Sun Lakes, Arizona, passed away November 11, 2016, just a few weeks before his 80th birthday, from complications of pancreatic cancer and a fall which resulted in a broken hip followed by pneumonia.

Frank was born on December 5, 1936 in Rochester, New York to Alphonse and Caroline DeFrancesco. He was with Kodak for 35-1/2 years, first in Rochester then in Windsor, Colorado where he retired. He started out as a mail boy right out of high school and when he retired he was the Director of Compensation at the Windsor plant. Upon retiring, he and his wife, Judy, moved to Sun Lakes.

When Frank’s children were young, he was active in the Camp Fire Girls with his daughters, and an usher at St. Joseph’s Church in Ft. Collins, Colorado. He loved golf, bowling and his card group. Frank began playing the accordion in his early teens. He had a band in Rochester for many years playing clubs and private parties. In Sun Lakes he also played many private parties and only stopped recently when the weight of the accordion was too much for him. He was also a member of the Ft. Collins Elks Club, and served in the Army National Guard.

After marrying Judy in 1982, she and Frank started a computer club in Ft. Collins. They got very wrapped up in that activity, and after moving to Sun Lakes they got involved in the local computer club and eventually started their own little “Mom and Pop” computer business. In addition to working on computers, he volunteered at Neighbors Who Care doing various client services as well and maintaining their computers and acting as their statistician. He was active at St. Stevens Church as a Sacristan, Eucharistic Minister and a Lead Money Counter. He was also Treasurer of the Sun Lakes Lions Club and played an integral part in their “Fly the Flag” program. He loved his Wednesday nights out with “the boys” and their regular poker game (that’s where he was when he fell and fractured his hip). One of the fun times several years back when Mash went off the air, he won the Klinger “look alike” contest. In his purple dress, picture hat, high heels and his purse and rifle, he was a dead ringer for Klinger. McLane Stevenson was the contest judge and it was fun meeting him.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Shirley and his younger sister, Carol.

Frank is survived by his wife of 34 wonderful years, Judy, and sister, Joanne Pink.

Frank’s loving children:

Donna, Steve (Shelly), Susan, Karen (Gerry); step-children who adored him:

Mike (Ingrid), Bob (Alesia), Bill, Kathy (Pat)

A blended family of grandchildren:

Casey (Emily), Melissa (Jason), Chris, Matt (Nichole), Stephen (Amanda), Danielle (Kyle), Corey, Kyle (Brittney), Jesse (Emily), Sarah (Bill), Katie (Travis), Colton, Nikki (Sean), Jeremy (Michelle), Danielle (Mike), Derek, Jessica, Dakota, Matthew, Megan, Shannon and Zachary.

There are 12 marriages among them, which soon will have produced 15 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation to Neighbors Who Care, 10450 E. Riggs Rd., Ste. 113, Sun Lakes, AZ 85248 which he supported for nearly 16 years.

A Memorial Mass was held at St. Steven’s Catholic Church, 24827 S. Dobson Rd., Sun Lakes, AZ 85248 on Saturday, December 3 at 10:00 a.m. Burial will take place in Ft. Collins, Colorado. The funeral arrangements are being handled by Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery and Funeral Home in Mesa. Memories and condolences may be made by visiting the online obituary guest book at www.qohcfh.org.

Joseph E. Klimoski

Joseph E. Klimoski of Sun Lakes passed on November 30 at Hospice House of the Valley at the age of 82. He moved to Arizona in 1974 as a manager for Waste Management. He later left WMS to then build and sell two waste management companies. He was preceded in death by his wife, Irene, and two sisters (Patricia and Mary Ann). He is survived by his children; Pete (Verla) Klimoski, Barbara (Dean) Randall, Tom Klimoski, and Carol Klimoski (Jeff) of the Phoenix area and Susan (Bob) Smart of Flagstaff. He also leaves behind three brothers (Mike, Victor and Bob), six grandchildren, one great-grandson and many nieces and nephews as well as a multitude of friends.

He married Shirley Marshall of Sun Lakes in 2011. They enjoyed nearly six years together playing golf, dancing and being a part of the community. Joe was a “Good Guy” and volunteered his time and talents in the United Methodist Church, Neighbors Who Care, Sun Lakes Rotary Club and was the ultimate Green Bay Packer fan. Joe had a good heart and will be missed by so many whose lives he has touched.

A celebration of Joe’s Life will be held at Sun Lakes United Methodist Church on January 7 at 10:30 a.m. A time of fellowship and light lunch will follow. Memorial donations may be made to Sun Lakes United Methodist Church or Hospice of the Valley.

Sylvia Marguerite Nelson

Sylvia Marguerite Nelson (nee Wells) died on December 2, 2016, at the age of 93, after suffering a stroke the week before. She was born in Auburn, Washington on September 1, 1923, and spent most of her childhood and early adult life in California.

She and her husband, Vernon Nelson, were married in San Francisco, CA in 1947, and they raised their three children in Orinda and San Francisco. In 1977 they moved to Phoenix, AZ where Vern was President and CEO of Southwest Savings & Loan. When Vern retired in 1986, they had a home built in the Palo Verde community of Sun Lakes.

Vern was a small plane pilot and Sylvia his skilled navigator. The two of them enjoyed flying to various parts of the country to visit friends and family. Sylvia always said, “I refuse to act like I’m old!” and – true to her word – she remained active until the very end. She played tennis and was involved in the Sun Lakes Watercolor Club for many years, taking on several roles, including Club President. She was a gifted artist and her beautiful artwork graces the walls of many homes throughout the country, and in several local businesses.

Sylvia is survived by her husband, Vern, age 102, two sons, one daughter, five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren, a brother and sister, and one niece.

Contributions may be made to Valley Hospice of Arizona, who lovingly tended to her needs at the end of her life.

Richard Michael Weidner

Richard Michael Weidner, 84, of Sun Lakes, AZ, passed away November 7, 2016. “Dick” Weidner, son of August and Eleanor Weidner, loving husband to Carol Lillian Weidner who celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary this year. Richard is survived by his wife, Carol, and two sons, Rick and Alan. He is also survived by his younger brother, Bill, and sister, Patty. He is also survived by grandchildren Teri and Andrew, and his three great-granddaughters, Hayden, Briele, and Ava. Richard’s passion for creating art including watercolors, oil painting and carving, was only surpassed by his love of family and joy of life. Services were held at Saint Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Chandler, AZ. Richard will be dearly missed by his loving family and all that knew him.