Mae Kaven

Mae Leino Kaven
June 13, 1937 - June 10, 2012
Resident of Fremont
Mae Evelyn Leino was born in Rhode Island on June 13, 1937, the daughter of Inna (Aarnio) and William Leino, who emigrated to the US from Finland in the 1920s. She graduated from South Kingstown High School, earned a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of Rhode Island and a Master of Arts in Teaching and Master of Arts in Psychology from Rhode Island College.
She taught at the Ponaganset Middle School in Gloucester, RI for nine years in the 1970s and then moved to northern California where she worked as an in-house advertising manager for a solar equipment manufacturer. From 1985 to 2012 she owned and operated The Last Detail, an editing and proofreading service serving high-tech companies.
Mae's beloved husband of 18 years, Will Kaven, pre-deceased her in 2008. She is survived by a son Mark Pilkanis of West Kingston, RI, a sister Miriam Eldridge of San Jose, CA, a niece Lisa Eldridge of Ben Lomond, CA, and two nephews Matt Eldridge of Santa Cruz, CA and Larry Eldridge of Ossining, NY. Also two step-daughters Lauren Kaven of Lafayette, CO and Lynn Young of Rocklin, CA, and step-grandchildren Ashley Vande Kieft, MD, and husband Erik, Merin Barrett, and husband Dan, of Malawi, Africa, Brad Young of Emeryville, CA and Clifford Winter of Lafayette, CO. Also two step-great-grandchildren Evan Vande Kieft and Jack Barrett.
Mae was a long-time member of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Fremont, CA where she served on the church Council and held various leadership positions. She raised $350,000 to create a Kidango preschool serving low-income families, she led the effort to create drought-tolerant landscaping for the church and was involved in refurbishing the fellowship hall. She sang in the church choir and was on the board of directors of The Center for Well-Being, a non-profit holistic health agency sponsored by the church.
A memorial service will be held for Mae on Sunday, July 22, 1pm at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 1301 Mowry Ave., Fremont, CA 94538. Private inurnment at Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, CA.
Mae survived breast cancer in 2003. Donations in her memory can be made to Christ the King Lutheran Church, 1301 Mowry Avenue, Fremont, CA 94538 or to a research organization working on vaginal or breast cancer.