Pamela Ann Mache Castillo

1945 - 2023

Pamela Ann Mache Castillo
October 28, 1945 - August 31, 2023
Pamela Ann Mache Castillo's life was shaped by love of family and love of reading. Pamela died on August 31 at age 77 after a long illness.

She was born on October 28, 1945, in Santa Rosa to Jeanne and Steve Mache. The oldest of five children, Pamela grew up in the Russian River community of Cazadero and later in Santa Rosa. Even after moving to Santa Rosa, the family spent summers in Cazadero. Pamela's first paid job was working for her grandparents, who owned the Cazadero general store.

A prolific reader, she enjoyed a wide range of topics. Her passion for books influenced her career choice and was eclipsed only by love of family. That love began with her parents and siblings, expanded as she married and had children, and extended to everyone in the clan, whether related by blood or marriage.

Pamela graduated from Ursuline High School in Santa Rosa and Dominican College of San Rafael, where she earned a bachelor's degree in history.

As a college senior visiting Zack's, a bar in Sausalito known for its entertaining turtle races, Pam met Fred Castillo. Given her love of books, it was significant that her first present to him was a dictionary. The couple married in 1968 and moved to Novato, where they lived their entire married life.

Drawn to the library profession, Pamela obtained a master's degree in library science at UC Berkeley and joined the staff of the Sonoma County Library. A reference librarian, she worked at the main library in Santa Rosa and as branch manager at the Sebastopol, Sonoma, and Rincon Valley branches. Most of her career was spent at the Petaluma Library, where she served patrons at the reference desk and managed the Petaluma History Room.

Pamela and Fred welcomed three sons during the 1970s. Pam paused her career for several years and applied her skills and love to raising the boys and managing the home.

An annual highlight was a summer camping trip to Modoc County, a tradition that began in her dad's family more than 100 years ago. Efficiently and without fanfare, Pamela planned the meals and chore rotations, all in the cause of supporting two weeks of fun for everyone. Some years the group numbered over 35 members of the extended family, from toddlers to great-grands in their 80s.

After retiring, Pamela continued to focus on family as a caregiver to her parents. Meanwhile, time spent with her grandchildren included reading and discussing favorite books.

Pamela belonged to Friends of the Library groups in Sonoma and Marin counties. She volunteered with the Friends of the Petaluma Library and at The Book Place, a shop in Novato that benefits the Marin County Free Library.

A lifelong Catholic, she was a member of Our Lady of Loretto parish in Novato.

She was also a faithful fan of the San Francisco 49ers.
Pamela was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Charles "Chuck" Mache.

Her husband of 54 years, Fred, and sons Anthony "Tony" (Trish), Brian (Becky), and Nate survive. She leaves four grandchildren: Alexander, Julianne, Sarah, and Cormac. Also surviving are her sister Gail Wyss (David), brother William "Bill" Mache (Debbie), brother Steven Mache, sister-in-law Cindy Mache (widow of Chuck), her aunt Lois Stornetta, her uncle Richard "Dick" Spargo, and her cousins. Pamela is mourned by nieces and nephews Stephanie, Lauren, Brittany, Melissa, Byron, Kyle, Shannon, Rachael, and Thomas, their families, and numerous close friends.

According to her request, no service was held.

Memorial contributions in Pamela's name may be made to the Friends of the Petaluma Library (100 Fairgrounds Drive, Petaluma, CA 94952), Friends of the Novato Libraries (visit marinlibraryfriends.org and select the Join/Renew/Donate tab), or the Alzheimer's Association (visit alz.org/norcal and select the Donate button).