Jerrie Castro

Jerrie was born January 13, 1941 in Springfield Illinois to parents Dorothy (Benepe) and Russell Tripp. She grew up with her mother and sister, Janis, in Carpinteria, California and graduated from Carpinteria Union High School in 1959. She attended college in Oakland where she completed a two-year surgical scrub tech program- the first scrub tech class in the state of California- and worked at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. Her zeal and knowledge of medicine was admired by many medical practitioners.
On September 30, 1962 Jerrie married her high school sweetheart Robert Neal Castro. After a brief honeymoon, Bob and Jerrie left for Giessen, Germany where Bob was stationed with the United States Army. She loved to tell the story of living on the German economy all by herself and having to learn German to survive all while raising their first-born child, Lisa.
Jerrie and Bob had three children: Lisa Dellone a retired critical care nurse/nurse educator for Community Regional Medical Center, Fresno, CA; Rob Castro, a retired police officer for Santa Barbara Police Department, and Ellen Nielsen, a grade 7-8 Academic Block teacher at the Clovis North Educational Center in Fresno, CA. Jerrie has three grandchildren: Ryan Dellone, a clinical nurse supervisor at Community Regional Medical Center; Jacob Nielsen, a real estate attorney for McGuireWoods LLP; and Katherine Nielsen, an enologist and a production wine manager for Amici Cellars in Calistoga, CA. Jerrie is blessed with two great-grandchildren: Brandon Dellone and Gianna Dellone, who affectionately called her "Gi-Gi".
Jerrie was preceded in death by her husband Robert and her sister Janis Shobert.
Jerrie was a woman of extraordinary grace and tireless compassion, whose remarkable contributions spanned numerous fields, from healthcare to education, and whose charitable work championed those most in need. From 1969-1973 Jerrie served on the Del Rosa Junior Women's Club in San Bernardino, CA and was named Junior Women's Club Citizen of the Year for her community service and fundraising efforts. Her charitable contributions also included support for the San Bernardino Zoological Society, March of Dimes, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Adolescent Emotional Problems and Drug Abuse Center, and the Whispering Pines Braille Trail in the San Bernardino Forest. Her exceptional service was also recognized when she was named as an Outstanding Young Woman in America. In 1974 she was appointed Executive Director of the Idaho Park Foundation where she worked to acquire land donations for park and recreational use throughout the State of Idaho.
From the late 70's to early 90's Jerrie taught as a Special Education Instructional Assistant for the Orcutt Union School District. After retiring from a career in education, Jerrie established Mission West Publishing Company in 1994. She authored two books: Mary's Plan and How to Save the Family.
Jerrie's life was forever changed in 1980 when she met Father Luke Zimmer SS.CC., founder of The Apostolate of Christian Renewal, at a parish renewal in Santa Maria, CA. At that event, an in-filling of the Holy Spirit led her to dedicate her life to serve God following the charism of the Apostolate of Christian Renewal. She became a parish prayer group leader, and a Master Catechist in the Roman Catholic Church. She led numerous pilgrimages to the Holy Land and Medjugorje, and spent time in healing and prison ministry. While serving in her ministry roles, Jerrie was appointed to the board of directors to the Apostolate of Christian Renewal, which later became The Servants and Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. In 1999, she was elected as president serving in that role until her death. In 2004 she moved to Fresno to be near her grandchildren and became a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church. There, she served as a ministry leader for the parish Adult Faith Study, and was a catechist on the parish RCIA inquiry team. Having a passion for healing ministry she directed the development of the Servants and Handmaids West Coast Center of Healing Prayer. Her desire was to have a team of trained prayer ministers in every parish in the United States. She founded the Holy Spirit parish healing prayer ministry team as a model parish in the Diocese of Fresno. Despite the challenges and suffering she experienced with illness later on in her life, Jerrie continued to lead and share her vision for the ministry she so passionately lived most of her adult life.
In her personal life, Jerrie was always up for an adventure. She enjoyed traveling and cruising especially to Europe. She enjoyed wine tasting in Napa and Paso Robles, and also enjoyed sipping on craft cocktails. Raised by an art teacher, Jerrie had a knack for painting and showed her artwork at art shows in Santa Maria and Carpinteria. She had a passion for table scaping and collected place settings and décor for every season of the year. She loved the outdoors and spent many family vacations camping, hunting, and fly fishing.
Jerrie's legacy is one of unwavering faith, extraordinary service, and boundless love. Her life was a testament to her deep devotion to God and her commitment to helping others. She was a true servant of the Lord and a beacon of hope and love for those around her. She will be remembered for her profound impact on the lives she touched and her enduring influence as a champion of the disadvantaged, disabled, and underserved.
A Rosary service will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Fresno, CA, on Thursday, August 1, 2024, with viewing at 5:00 PM and the Rosary at 6:00 PM. Funeral services will follow on Friday, August 2, 2024, with viewing at 8:30 AM, Funeral Mass at 9:30 AM, and a reception immediately following in Logan Hall. Jerrie will be laid to rest at Saint Peter's Catholic Cemetery at 1:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Servants and Handmaids of The Sacred Heart of Jesus Mary and Joseph in Jerrie's memory.
Jerrie Ridley Castro's faith, kindness, and unwavering commitment to her community will be remembered by all who knew her.