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Lee Parkinson Obituary
Despite her petite stature, Lee was one of the strongest and most active people in her neighborhood. Only until the time when her health made it impossible, she was a fabulous cook, loved to garden, walk daily, and regularly attend aerobics classes at the Senior Center in Garden Grove. She also loved animals and nature, especially her beloved Pomeranians, Bucky and Nikki, who preceded her in death, and lovingly created a monarch butterfly and hummingbird sanctuary in her garden. She brought beauty and growth to everything she touched.
Lee nurtured loving relationships with many friends, too numerous to list who became family, many predeceased her, but she dearly loved all her close friends. Most of all she dearly loved her children and loved spending time with them until the end of her life. She is survived by her daughter, Debbie, son Brad, and daughter-in-law, Susi. She was also a beloved sister to Frank and Mike, and aunt to many nieces and nephews including David, Barbara, Ralph and Emily.
Besides her parents and husband of 53 years, she was preceded in death by siblings Tony, Lucy, Philomena, Albert, John, and Joe.
In keeping with Lee's wishes, no services will be held, but for anyone wishing to make a donation here are some suggestions of causes of importance to her: The Lymphoma Foundation of America, The Glaucoma Foundation, American Lung Association, The Save Our Monarchs Foundation, The International Hummingbird Society, The National Forest Foundation.
3 Entries
Patricia DePauw
March 14, 2025
I liked Lee, immediately---and that never changed.
She was a friend of my mother-in-law, Barbara and the three of us enjoyed many lunches and laughs. Lee was amazing and so much fun. She and Barbara always looked like they stepped off of a magazine cover-they were definitely a lot alike in many ways and appreciated having each other as friends. They loved to laugh and we often did.
Memory snippits:
Barbara dropped her cane at the back of her restaurant booth one time and couldn´t reach it (me either). Lee, 90, dropped to her knees, then under the booth to retrieve it. I couldn´t believe it when I saw it. We all had a good laugh about it.
Lee told us that she had someone come to take a look at her roof and she went up on the roof, too, so that she could see better. We thought the guy would have been horrified to know how old she was at the time.
I didn´t see a lot of Lee over the past few years; but, when I did, she always seemed younger than her years---maybe because she was so darn cute or maybe because she stayed curious about so many things.
She thought it was funny when doctors were surprised to find out how old she was. One doctor spent time trying to find out if she knew a secret about aging and told her that she was "God´s perfection".
Lee and I were both driving and I was supposed to follow her to the restaurant. She drove so fast that I lost track of her. Definitely no slouch as a driver and a big surprise for me!
My children both loved Lee, too. She and Barbara went to Paso Robles with me to spend time at my daughter´s and we had such a good time. When Barbara had her 90th birthday party, my son chose to sit at Lee´s table the entire time.
Everyone needs a "Lee" in their life. Our family was so fortunate.
She was tiny, but she gave the "best" hugs.
Each Monarch I see will remind me of Lee. Such good memories.......
Pat DePauw
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Chris D
March 14, 2025
Lee was a wonderful person and one of my late grandmother's dearest friends. My own experience of Lee was that she was a great listener, an authentic and beautiful person with bright and warm energy always refreshing to be around.
A cherished memory; Lee went with my Grandmother and I to Santa Monica. She and my grondmother met people in an office I worked at and we drove around together, up PCH and through Beverly Hills and West LA. We saw some places familiar to Lee, such as the church where she had been married. We had a great time together on a windy but sunny day I keep in my memory.
Good bye Lee and thank you. We appreciated you and love you.
Debbie
March 14, 2025
Dearest Mom,
There's a hole in my life now that you are gone, but you will live on in my heart forever. I miss you everyday.
I hope your dear angel sisters and brothers and all the other angels from your family were waiting for you at the Heavenly Gates when you arrived. I hope you're having so much fun with all of them, walking pain-free all over heaven and enjoying cups of tea and wonderful meals with everyone.
I also hope that you've been reunited with Sacha, Bucky and Nikki and all three of them are your constant, loving companions. I can just imagine how happy they were to see you. I wish you could tell me all about their cute and mischievous antics.
I'd love to hear about the fun you're having (I'm sure you're laughing and finding joy in everything). If there are senior aerobics classes in heaven I'm sure you're taking them every day!
You'll be so happy to hear that we've been getting lots of rain (exactly what you loved!) so all your beautiful plants and trees and all your hummingbird and butterfly friends will thrive. I wish we could talk about all the rain and how much you're enjoying it and hope you can watch it come down in heaven.
I miss you and love you and know some day we will be together again.
Love forever and ever,
Debbie
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