Gretchen Mooney

GRETCHEN MOONEY Gretchen Mary Mooney, age 88, passed away peacefully on January 22, 2022 in Chico, CA. Born to Martin Servatius & Mildred Dressen on Dec. 10, 1933 in Shakopee, MN. Gretchen spent her youth with her three sisters enjoying her summer home on Prior Lake, MN. On her way home from school she would look in the window of her uncle's Rock Springs Bottling Works and watch the bottles be filled. This was also next to her Aunt Rosie's Cafe and Hair Salon who was Miss Minnesota. Gretchen's summer fish-frys could have 50 relatives gathered under the stars. She often shared her fond memories with her close-knit family. Gretchen attended the University of Wisconsin before moving to San Francisco where she met her husband Kenneth G Mooney, a strapping 6'3" Marine, and was married in 1957. In-between raising 5 kids, Gretchen and Ken decided to build a house by themselves, which they found in a Sunset magazine on their 6 acres in Sonoma. Their family ranch was complete with ponies, horses, sheep, chickens, and dogs and was an idyllic life for over 20 years. It was not unusual to see Gretchen roofing the house at 6 months pregnant or trawling cement. She was also an excellent shot as she hunted with her father in her youth and loved to fish. Gretchen had a pioneering spirit and a can-do attitude, nothing was ever impossible. Summers were filled with the "Mooney" 4-H club, which competed with the State Reserve Grand Champion "Mr. Moon." In 1982, Gretchen lost her husband and began the next adventure where she moved her family to Gridley, CA. to grow Kiwi fruit. The family planted the ranch together and lived happily. When the ranch began to struggle, Gretchen decided to produce kiwi jam, a skill she learned as a young girl in MN. As usual, the family worked together and journeyed to farmer's markets, as much as 3 hours away, to earn enough money to save the ranch. Gretchen had a zest for life and adventure, she could never be happy unless she was working on her next idea, so thus, Mooney Farms, producer of "Bella Sun Luci Sun Dried Tomatoes" was born and became an international brand and the largest producer of sun dried tomatoes in the United States. If you asked Gretchen in her boardroom, with a larger-than-life picture of her over her shoulder, "what was your greatest achievement," she would answer, "my beautiful family." Her favorite saying was "blood is thicker than water." Later in life, Gretchen loved to spend time with her grandchildren. Every spring she could be found at the Gridley High Baseball Field watching her grandson Mark play ball or at the Tennis Courts watching her grandson Mike hit. Her favorite spot to travel to was Hawaii. Gretchen loved visiting the Island with her family and could spend the entire day floating in the water. This is where she was truly at peace. Her son Michael Martin Mooney, Stephen John Mooney and husband Kenneth G Mooney preceded Gretchen in death. Gretchen is survived by her sons Patrick Kenneth Mooney, (Susan), Mary Mooney McConnell, (Michael), Kelly Mooney Gray, (Ian), Grandchildren, Sean Mooney, Michael McConnell, Mark McConnell, Sarah Mooney & Christopher Gray. Services will be held under the direction of Newton-Bracewell, February 24, at 11:00 AM at Our Divine Savior Catholic Church, 566 E. Lassen Avenue, Chico, CA 95973. A reception to be held after at Mooney Farms, 1220 Fortress Avenue, Chico, CA 95973.