Shirley Mc Millen Beltz Zeni

Passed away peacefully in Santa Rosa at the age of 77 surrounded by members of her huge, loving family. She was preceded in death by her beloved husbands, Dale Beltz Sr. (1985) and George Zeni (1999) and by her brother Leonard Mc Millen (1988). She is survived by sister-in-law, Karen Mc Millen. Wonderful mother to Dale Beltz Jr. (Sandy), Therese Zettler (Leroy Zettler, deceased), Ralph Beltz (Kathleen), and Ron Beltz (Linda). Endeared grandmother and great-grandmother of twenty-eight (and growing) children, as she would so often proudly remind anyone within earshot. Her roots grew deep on the Northern California coast. Shirley was born and raised in Pt. Arena, the daughter of grocers Ralph and Sadie Mc Millen. Many of her childhood friends remained her closest friends for life. She met Coast Guardsman Dale Beltz Sr. while attending Pt. Arena High School and working in the family-owned Mc Millen's General Merchandise. They married in 1951 and lived in Cape May, New Jersey, for one year. They then moved to Belmont for 18 years before returning to Pt. Arena to run the Pt. Arena General Store. They moved to Calistoga in 1978. Shirley and Dale were married for 33 years until Dale's passing in 1985. She married George Zeni in 1988 and then proceeded to greatly enjoy the "fruits of the land" with him at the Zeni Ranch until he also passed. His children are John Zeni (Bonnie), Linda Anderson (Butch), and Raymond Zeni (Jane). Shirley returned to Point Arena for her final years. Blessed with the gift of relating to small children, she was instrumental in the Montessori School of Notre Dame in Belmont, CA in the 60's. She was the founding member of the Pt. Arena Little School, then later a founder of the North Napa Montessori School. She was a partner at the Alice Jeanette and My School in Calistoga and went on to become the director of the Calistoga Children's Center. Music was a passion of Shirley's from a young age and she shared her gift unselfishly throughout her lifetime, playing the piano or accordion for hundreds of weddings and many other events. She was the pianist at both Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Calistoga and the St. Aloysius Church in Pt. Arena for many years. She was a member of the North Coast Senior Center and loved their monthly spaghetti dinners. Shirley was an avid supporter of the lighthouse in Pt. Arena, serving as a board member, and often considered as the area's unofficial historian. She was also a member of the Druids. She enjoyed a good Scrabble game or Pedro card game. Lucky to the extreme, she relished playing BINGO and pulling the "one armed bandits" . She knew most of the answers on her favorite daily TV show, Jeopardy. She loved life, her family, children of all ages, music, coastal history, and laughter. She was a spiritual woman who cherished the mostly forgotten, simpler way of life that is found on the North Coast. A Memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 4th, 2010 at St Aloysius Church in Pt. Arena at 1:00 p.m. A reception following the service will be held at the Trinity Hall adjacent to the church. Donations can be made to: St. Aloysius Catholic Church, South Coast Senior Center, Pt. Arena Lighthouse, The Pt. Arena Druids.