Mark Kendall Rebelé

MARK REBELÉ

Mark Kendall Rebelé, 46, a resident of Chico for 20 years, passed away at his home on Feb. 25, 2012.

Mark is survived by his daughter, Kendall, 13, of Stonyford; his parents, Anthony and Elizabeth Rebelé‚ of San Mateo; his sister, Cecelia Rebelé‚ of Burlingame; his aunt and uncle, Rowland and Patricia Rebelé of Aptos; cousins, Marianne and Christopher Rebelé of Santa Cruz; cousin, Andrew Rebelé of Seattle; his cousins, Gary and Norma Benson of Hollister and his partner, Tesha Ramos.

Originally from San Mateo, Mark graduated from Aragon High School and later attended College of San Mateo. He was an excellent golfer and was on the Aragon golf team and a member of Peninsula Golf and Country Club, where he won the annual Old Pals Golf Tournament.

Mark attended Feather River College in Quincy from 1991 to 1994, where he also played golf and was graduated with an Associate of Arts Degree in liberal studies. He then went to Chico State University for one year, studying Agricultural Science.

Mark was a professional chef at Feather River Hospital in Paradise for the past seven years. Prior to that, he cooked at Chico Brew House and Rolling Hills Casino. He was a 2003 graduate of the Butte Culinary Academy. One of his former co-workers said "Mark was one of the best chefs I've ever worked with. He had a natural ability to cook delicious, nutritious meals. He really had culinary talents like none other."

When asked to prepare luncheon for 230 volunteers at Feather River Hospital, Mark fixed Chicken Cordon Bleu "from scratch and without ham (an Adventist no-no)," according to his boss Patty Patterson. "It was a great hit." On another occasion, Mark prepared a dinner of Chilean Sea Bass for 100 guests at the hospital's annual physicians' award dinner. "He prepared it with a sauce that was to die for," Patterson recalled.

After Mark's death, the hospital's chaplains organized a meeting of employees to share stories about Mark's life and celebrate it.

Mark was an avid woodworker, gardener and fisherman. His friends, neighbors and co-workers described him as always helpful, friendly, kind and good-humored. Typically, he would bake cookies for one neighbor's children and clean another's gutters. Mark will be greatly missed by so many.

A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at Bidwell Chapel, 341 W. 3rd St., Chico, on March 16, 2012 at 5:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Mark's name to any notable service organization that supports the beliefs that you felt Mark held dear.