Jeremy Christian Pettas

Jeremy Christian Pettas
February 7, 1973 ~ December 15, 2006

DEL REY OAKS – Jeremy Christian Pettas, 33, a loving father to two young boys and a devoted husband for eight years, died peacefully Friday after a lengthy battle with (mesothelioma) cancer.
   Jeremy entered this world February 7, 1973, to Frank and Rosanne Pettas, in Monterey. His love of water skiing lasted for more than two decades as he took in countless summer trips to Lake McClure in Central California with his family. A supporter of the Los Angeles Rams since he was four years old, Jeremy also was an avid fan of custom hot rods and was a drag racing enthusiast, as Jeremy and his father took numerous trips to watch the Winter Nationals of the National Hot Rod Association in Pomona, California.
   At age nine, Jeremy acquired a 1936 Dodge, a car he and his father restored over the years, and was up and running in the early 1990s. In 1998, Jeremy and his wife Desiree drove the car from Calvary Chapel where they married, to their wedding reception at the Elks Lodge.
   Jeremy worked as an electrical contractor and co-owner with Pettas Electric for three years. For the last two years, he coached varsity football at Gonzales High School in Gonzales, California. He also coached football at Monterey High School from 1997-2003. In 2003, he served as assistant swim coach at Monterey High School with his wife, Desiree.
   A 1998 graduate of California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, Jeremy received a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. He also received an Associate degree in General Studies from Monterey Peninsula College, where he was a member of the collegiate swim team for two years. He graduated from Monterey High School in 1991, where he pole vaulted and played football all four years.
   Jeremy was preceded in death by his great-grandmother, Susie Pettas and his grandfather, John Pettas.
   Jeremy is survived by his wife, Desiree Matulac Pettas of Del Rey Oaks; two sons, Nathaniel Tyler, age four and Dylan Joseph, 20 months old, both of Del Rey Oaks; his parents, Frank and Rosanne Pettas of Monterey; sister, Cherdeen Funke and her husband, Kurt of Monterey; nephew and niece, Nicholas and Shannon Funke, both of Monterey; grandmother, Frances Pettas of Monterey; grandparents, Wallace and Victorine Bruce, both of Seaside; father- and mother-in-law, Bob and Loida Matulac of Salinas; brother-and sister-in-law, Sean Matulac of Pacific Grove and Roberta Matulac of Salinas; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and extended family.
   Visitation is from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, December 20, 2006 at Mission Mortuary in Monterey, with a vigil beginning at 7 p.m. Funeral services are at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, December 21, 2007 at the San Carlos Cathedral in Monterey, followed by lunch to be announced at the service.
   In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of Jeremy Pettas to the Mesothelioma Research Foundation of America at www.mesorfa.org. or through Mesothelioma Research Foundation of America, 5716 Corsa Avenue, Suite 203, Westlake Village, CA 91362. More information can be found by e-mailing esothelioma@listserv.acor.org. You may also send
donations to your favorite charity in honor of Jeremy Pettas.
   The Pettas family would again like to thank everyone for their continued support during this time.