Published by Legacy Remembers on Feb. 25, 2025.
Dale Patricia (O'Neil) Galvan was born on March 7, 1949, in Mountain View, California.
Her beautiful spirit was not extinguished when her heart stopped beating on January 15, 2025, in
Minden, Nevada. It is that spirit that her husband, children, family, and friends will remember and celebrate for the rest of their lives.
Dale was the oldest child of Diane (Dina DeCesaris) and John (Jack) O'Neil, who met as pen pals during World War II, fell in love through their letters, married after the end of the war, and created a life together in the hills of California. Her brothers, Brian and Mark, came along quickly and the family enjoyed a life filled with a love of animals, boating, camping, and cars. Her Dad owned a locksmith shop where her Mom, Mark and Brian also worked. Sometimes her Dad brought home stray cats, dogs, lizards and even a pet monkey once in good faith from his customers!
Dale was a bit of a rebel, bucking up against expectations and doing what she just-had-to-do rather than what she'd been told. Dale earned the respect and admiration of many of her peers when, as a teenager, she cut school and caught a bus to San Francisco with her friend Claudia to find The Beatles. When they got to the hotel where her beloved Beatles were staying before a concert at the Cow Palace, they hid in one of their limousines. Imagine John and Ringo's surprise when they jumped into the car to find two cute California girls inside! Even though Dale and her pal were removed from the car and left on the top floor of the hotel garage to fend for themselves, she got to speak to John Lennon who was friendly and quite impressed with her nerve. Her friends and family were in awe as well. Her Mom? Not so much. But this was Dale: rebellious, strong, determined, willing to take a chance, ready to face the consequences, and full of great stories to tell as only she could, no matter how her adventure turned out. She could not be kept down or quiet. She always had a twinkle in her eye, a smile on her lips. It was why all who knew her loved her.
The Wild Child calmed down, however, when she met the love of her life, Tony Galvan. Tony was in a band at the time when a few of his band mates said "You have to meet this girl Dale, she's one of the guys. Really down to earth. You have to meet Dale!" Tony instantly fell for Dale and they began dating. Soon after, Tony was sent off to Vietnam. They would write to each other regularly until he returned. They married on April 4, 1969, and spent the next fifty-five years together, raising their son, Trevor, and daughter, Tiffany, in San Jose, California, with their shared big hearts and irreverent senses of humor. The Galvan house on Bon Bon was a favorite hang for all of the kids friends as Dale always made them feel welcome and fully enjoyed the house filled with fun and laughter.
Dale worked as a dental technician and endeared herself to her employers, fellow staff and patients with her humor and kindness. She stayed close to her brothers and their growing families, and to her cousins who were spread around the world. Once her
children were raised, she and Tony set off on a new adventure, building a home in
Minden, Nevada, where they spent the last 31 years. As she had done in California, Dale made new made friends in Nevada, while keeping the old. Tiffany followed after a few years in Los Angeles, settling in Reno. Trips back to San Jose to see Trevor and friends were often, and holidays meant gathering in Minden to enjoy the Italian goodies she made from scratch for years. Home was where Dale was, always.
In these later years, her health began to decline. When this recently took a serious turn, she spent her last weeks at home, surrounded by her husband and children, seeing grand, great grandchildren and many friends, encircled by her beloved cats Molly and Suki, finding comfort in the company of them all.
In addition to her husband, Tony, and her children, Trevor (Dena) and Tiffany. Dale is survived by her grandchildren, Camaera Sexton-Szpirko (Andy), great-granddaughters Isabella and Dahlia Sexton, Grandson Nicholas brothers Brian O'Neil (Dee Barrs), Mark O'Neil (Kathy), Nieces, Stephanie and her son Julian, Melissa James (Chuck), Katherine Decina (David) and their daughters Isla, Alarra and Avia; Karen Quinn (Patrick) and their sons Graham and Charlie; and Nephew, Kevin O'Neil (Jada). She also will be missed by her cousins and closest friends. She was predeceased by her parents, Dina and Jack O'Neil, her nephew, Stephen O'Neil, and her great-niece, Amora and her dear cats Honey, Muffin, Marmalade, Nikki and Rosie.
A celebration of Dale's love-filled life will take place on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 11:00am. Services will be held at St. Gall Catholic Church, 1343 Centerville Ln. Gardnerville, NV 89410.
Those unable to attend in-person may join via Facebook Live on Tiffany Galvan's page.
In lieu of flowers to honor Dale, please consider a donation in her memory to:
The
American Cancer SocietyAmerican Diabetes Society
The Humane Society