Lois A. de la Gardelle

FUNERAL HOME

Greer Family Mortuary & Cremation Services

2694 Blanding Avenue

Alameda, California

Lois de la Gardelle Obituary

LOIS A. DE LA GARDELLE April 16, 1931 to December 30, 2007 Lois A. de la Gardelle, 76, long time resident of Alameda, passed away Sunday, December 30, 2007 at Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock, CA. Lois was born in Grand Forks, ND, to Dora and Jim Earl. Lois grew up on the Grand Forks family farm homesteaded by her parents and moved to Alameda as a young woman shortly after marrying. Lois earned her Bachelor of Science degree while a mother of seven and worked for the California Department of Public Health for over 30 years, retiring in 1998. Lois was a negotiator for her union, CSEA, was active in politics, loved to read, and was very involved in the lives of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Lois is survived by her sister Anne Overstreet and brother's Harry Earl and James Earl; daughter's Deborah K. Hill, Dana Spicer-Norman, Denise Johnson, Dacy Rutter, Dee Dee Wulff and Diane Lane; grandchildren Jeffrey Macario, Cindi Nielson, Chris Rutter, Kelly Bears, Gregory Dunsmore, Dustin Dunsmore, Rachel Rutter, Ricky Wulff; great-grandchildren Annie Angel, Julia Lane, Sam Lane, Ally Macario, Grace Nielson, Alex Nielson, Kylie Bears, Christopher Rutter, Emma Rutter, Carly Rutter, Rebeka Dunsmore, Evan Wulff and numerous, cousins, nephews and nieces. She was preceeded in death by her husband, Vincent de la Gardelle, son David Rutter and grandson Cash Cook. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 5, 2008 at Greer Family Mortuary, 2694 Blanding Ave., Alameda. Charitable donations may be made Spina Bifida Association at www.sbaa.org.

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Published by Oakland Tribune from Jan. 3 to Jan. 4, 2008.

Memories and Condolences
for Lois de la Gardelle

13 Entries

favorite daughter

February 7, 2008

My dearest Mother,
I forgot to tell you, thank you for the beautiful smile!
Love,
Your real favorite daughter.
xoxoxox

Janice Lopez

February 5, 2008

Lois was a great co-worker and mentor to several of us in the State laboratory where she worked. The ones who were directly under her wing went on to put the technical training they received from her and life lessons to good use. Lois always had time for us and will be greatly missed.

dacy rutter

January 29, 2008

Mom
The pain from the loss of you is un-imanageble. Our loss is so much more than any of us can hardly bare, and can only strengthen me as your unconditional love always did for me. I love you mama.
DACY

DianeI Lane

January 21, 2008

Mom,I made pecan tassies yesterday,I am so glad Ihave your recipe!!Everybody loves them so much,The pain of losing you is way worse than I ever imagined, Ilove you your kindness andyour tenderness has made me a more compassionate person,youre the best mom in the whole world!!Your strength and wisdom willhelp mecarry on and pass some of it on to my children, my heart has an ache I have never felt before,with memories and laughter and faith I know the pain will subside.

The Rutter Family

January 19, 2008

Lois we miss so much! and we know a million words can't bring you back, we know because we've tried, Either could million tears we know cause we've cried. We love for the amazing woman you were and in our hearts will always be.

Dana Spicer

January 15, 2008

Mom I miss you very much and hoped that you would some day live near me and not have all those stairs to climb. You gave me such a feeling that I could do almost anything and also this sense of humor that keeps me going everyday. Thank you Mom and you are in my heart today and everyday. Also I would like to add that the month you stayed in Modesto at my house I am so sorry that we ate on paper plates. Every night you would make this wonderful dinner, but here I was with only paper plates. Thank you for being my mother and you did a great job.
Love,
Dana

Dacy Rutter

January 12, 2008

Mom On Jan 2 I wrote the first entry in your guest book. I hope you got my letter, because somehow it is not here anymore. Well the only thing that matters is that you know I wrote it out of my love and respect and admiration I shall always have for you. Love your daughter,
DACY FRANCES RUTTER

Rachel Rutter

January 7, 2008

"You can close your eyes to things you don't want to see, but you can't close your heart to things you don't want to feel" I Love you with all my heart Grandma and I know you were tired. You spirit was so high in the hospital and your sense of humor I adored. I promise grandma I will mind my P's and Q's and make you proud. Also I promise again to be patient with my mom and to be an inspiration. I Love you always and Forever Rachel XoXoXo............

Rachel Rutter

January 7, 2008

Dear Grandma, I have needed to say a few things to you that have been on my mind. This morning I woke up and wished that I could give you the biggest hug in the world, just one last time. Also I wanted to speak at the funeral although it was hard. I know you know how much I appreciate you. You have taught me so much in life from the simplests things like what its like to have nice things, a beautiful smile that has changed my life, and taking care of my mommy. I will never forget you generosity, strength and courage. You have inspired me in so many ways its unexplainable. What I am going to miss the most is being at your house completely raiding the refrigerator and you telling me all your child hood stories on the farm.

Holly Runner

January 5, 2008

Lois opened her heart and her home
to me when I married her son David.
She remained a warm and caring person to me all through my life.
She was a person that I loved to sit down and talk with. She used
her sense of humor artfully in
conversation. I usually felt alittle wiser and a little happier
after sharing a conversation with Lois. I'll always remember her as a
very unique and special person in
my life.

Sheila E. Gaines

January 4, 2008

With Heartfelt Sympathy the world is a better place because it was blessed by such a precious soul. Lois was a wonderful friend and co-worker. May God bless the family with strength to go forward.

Dacy Rutter

January 3, 2008

To my dearest family, some things I'd like to say...
but first of all, to let you know, that I arrived okay.
I'm writing this from heaven. Here I dwell with God above.
Here, there's no more tears of sadness; here is just eternal love.

Please do not be unhappy just because I'm out of sight.
Remember that I'm with you every morning, noon and night.
That day I had to leave you when my life on earth was through,
God picked me up and hugged me and He said, "I welcome you."

It's good to have you back again; you were missed while you were gone.
As for your dearest family, they'll be here later on.
I need you here badly; you're part of my plan.
There's so much that we have to do, to help our mortal man."

God gave me a list of things, that he wished for me to do.
And foremost on the list, was to watch and care for you.
And when you lie in bed at night, the day's chores put to flight.
God and I are closest to you....in the middle of the night.

When you think of my life on earth, and all those loving years
because you are only human, they are bound to bring you tears.
But do not be afraid to cry; it does relieve the pain.
Remember there would be no flowers, unless there was some rain.

I wish that I could tell you all that God has planned.
But if I were to tell you, you wouldn't understand.
But one thing is for certain, though my life on earth is o'er.
I'm closer to you now, than I ever was before.

There are many rocky roads ahead of you and many hills to climb;
but together we can do it by taking one day at a time.
It was always my philosophy and I'd like it for you too...
that as you give unto the world, the world will give to you.

If you can help somebody who's in sorrow and pain,
then you can say to God at night......"My day was not in vain."
And now I am contented....that my life has been worthwhile,
knowing as I passed along the way, I made somebody smile.

So if you meet somebody who is sad and feeling low,
just lend a hand to pick him up, as on your way you go.
When you're walking down the street, and you've got me on your mind;
I'm walking in your footsteps only half a step behind.

And when it's time for you to go.... from that body to be free,
remember you're not going.....you're coming here to me.

Ruth Ann Mahaffey (author)
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