Recent Obituaries and Guest Books

Margery Jean (Maggs) Abinanti passed away in La Jolla on March 31, 2013. Born in Fresno, CA, on January 29, 1922, Margery was the eldest of three daughters born to Dr. Fredrick and Ethel (Eckstrom) Maggs. Growing up in Stockton, CA, her mother taught her to play the piano beautifully, which she enjoyed over her lifetime. She also played the oboe in the Stockton symphony.
She attended the College of Pacific then transferred to UC Berkeley where she graduated in 1946 as a bacteriologist. Margery worked at research laboratories in Santa Barbara and Berkeley, where she met her husband, Francis R Abinanti. Margery and Francis were married in Palo Alto on June 10, 1950.
In 1953 Francis was invited to Cambridge University in England to study for his Ph.D. Francis, Margery, son Lawson and daughter Andrea enjoyed the experience of living in England and traveling in Europe. We still cherish the letters Margery wrote to her mother and sisters during those years. The family returned to the U.S. and settled in Bethesda, Maryland. Son Michael joined the family and Margery and Francis lived there with their three children until Francis was transferred to Scripps in La Jolla in 1970. In the 1980's Margery returned to work in the City of San Diego's Health Department. With their children grown, Margery and Francis moved in the early 1990's to Pullman, WA, where Francis worked as a Professor in the Veterinary Department at Washington State University.
After retiring, they returned to their beloved home in La Jolla, overlooking the ocean and enjoying their beautiful garden. She remained in La Jolla until her passing.
Margery had wonderful adventures traveling much of the world with family and her cherished friends, and was active in the La Jolla community, volunteering at the Athenaeum and acting as a docent for the Birch Aquarium.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Francis, and her sister, Dorothy Brodsky. Margery is survived by her three children, Lawson of Bellevue, WA, Andrea of Kathmandu, Nepal, and Michael of Seattle, WA; grandson, Mark of Bellevue, WA; sister, Eleanor (Bob) Pound of Walnut Creek, CA; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Margery was a true humanitarian, exemplified by her generous support of many charitable organizations throughout the world, and her loving and caring spirit. She had a beautiful smile that lit up any room she entered. We will miss her, but she will always be in our hearts.
A celebration of Margery's life will be held in the garden of her home on June 15, 2013.

Long term Poway resident and business owner, Nazem Agha, passed away on Friday, May 3, 2013, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Nazem was born in Lebanon on September 1, 1949, and moved to Southern California in 1970 to pursue his educational goals. It was at Palomar College where he met the love of his life, his wife of 41 years, Victoria (Heames) Agha. He earned his bachelor degree in business from SDSU in 1978. They soon settled in Poway where they raised a family and opened their business, Carpet Country.
Nazem was an active member of the community, always striving to make a positive impact any way he could, including through his membership and term as President of the Rotary Club of Poway. We will remember his kindness, compassion, generosity, dedication to his family and strong work ethic. His passion for good food, good wine and good company was contagious and he taught us to make the most out of every day. We will miss his laughter, warm smile and his ability to look on the bright side of things no matter what challenges he faced. He was an amazing husband, father, grandfather, son, uncle, brother, brother-in-law and friend.
Nazem is survived by his wife, Victoria Agha of Poway; daughter, Hayat, and son-in-law, Jason Nierenberg of Sammamish, Washington; daughter, Alia, and son-in-law, Ryan Williams of Eagle River, Alaska; grandchildren, Ace Edward of Sammamish and Myrah Fay of Eagle River; siblings, Coussaie Agha, Wael Agha and Mohamed Agha of Ramona, Hanaa Agha of Poway and Sanaa Zaila of Lebanon; as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and colleagues.
Remembrance services were private. We thank you for your compassion and memories and we are very grateful that Nazem meant so much to so many people.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Rotary Club of Poway, P.O. Box 184, Poway, CA 92074-0184 would be appreciated.

Richard Ayers, 76, a former long-time resident of Poway, passed away April 2, 2013, in Palestine, TX.
Burial services will be held Thursday, May 23, 2013, at 3pm at Dearborn Memorial Park. A Celebration of Life will follow immediately at Hamburger Factory in Poway.

Mrs. Badders, 47, of Poway, passed away May 6, 2013. Services are pending at Church of Rancho Bernardo.

Alice Marguerite Barker, a long time Rancho Bernardo resident, passed away after a brief illness on April 4, 2013, at the age of 96, in Tallahassee, Florida. She was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Zachariah Allen Barker. Alice was born August 9, 1916, in Newton, Kansas, but spent most of her life in San Diego, graduating from high school and attending college there. She graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and did post-graduate work at the University of Hawaii to complete her teaching degree.
Alice thoroughly enjoyed teaching at the primary level and upon retirement, equally enjoyed golfing, traveling around the country, watching the sports and accomplishments of her grandchildren, and participating in the many activities of the Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church. Her love of life, family and friends endeared her to all who knew her, and she leaves behind a legacy of faith and caring. She moved to the Tallahassee area to be closer to family, but never forgot her home was San Diego.
Alice is survived by her two daughters, Jane (Jerry) Schoonover of Monticello, FL, and Patti McCartney of Scottsdale, AZ; five grandchildren, Michael Schoonover, Kristen Schoonover, Sandra (Floyd) Faglie, Alisha (Phillip) Tencick, and Charles; and five great-grandchildren, Madison, Lauchlin, Floyd Benjamin, Leighton and Bevin. She greatly loved the generations of this family and would often remark in wonder as she watched the children around her, "Look what we started!"
A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, May 4, 2013, at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of the Allegro Assisted Living Community in Tallahassee.

Mrs. Belsan, 74, of San Diego, passed away April 15, 2013. Services were held April 23, 2013, at San Rafael Catholic Church.

Anita Jane Boatman, 72, of Ramona, CA, passed away peacefully into the arms of our Heavenly Father on Tuesday, April 23, 2013, at 2:40am at Palomar Medical Center. She had battled a chronic illness for several years with pneumonia ending her struggle. Anita was born April 15, 1941, in Los Angeles County, daughter of Lawrence F. and Minnie Mae Chambers.
Anita is survived by her sons, John and Scott Boatman; granddaughter, Tannith Boatman; and sisters, Pat Geerts, Cheryl Williams and Barbara Hale.
Anita worked for Ramona Unified School District for 10 years and Cal-Fire for over 8 years and obtained a Class C and Hazardous Material License. She had a passion for people and a reputation of being everyone's favorite School Bus Driver.
Anita touched the lives and hearts of everyone she met. When she wasn't working, she loved spending time with her family, especially her sisters. She loved shopping and had a collector's eye for uniqueness. She had a real appreciation for beauty in the world around her.
There will be a Celebration of Life held on Saturday, May 18, 2013, from 12-4pm at Collier Park in Ramona, followed by a Potluck Reception.

Chester R. Borger Sr., age 82, died April 16, 2013. He was born in East Detroit, MI, on March 30, 1931, to Russel and Genevieve Borger.
Chester is survived by his wife of 54 years, Margaret; four children, Michele (Troy) Pelky of Temecula, CA, Chet Jr. (Lisa) Borger of Elk River, MN, Renee (Darick) Rhodes of Bloomington, MN, and John (Sherri) Borger of Owatonna, MN; and eight grandchildren.
Chester was a four year veteran of the Korean War.
A funeral Mass was celebrated at San Rafael Catholic Church on Wednesday, April 24, 2013, at 10:00am, immediately followed by a reception with burial at Mission San Luis Rey Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, C/O San Rafael Catholic Church, 17252 Bernardo Center Dr., San Diego, CA 92128.

Mr. Broun, 80, of Poway, passed away May 8, 2013. Services will be held May 24, 2013, at 10am at St. Michael Church, Poway, CA.

Miss Bruun, 54, of Escondido, formerly of Rancho Bernardo, passed away April 19, 2013. No services are planned.