Corinne Abel

1922 - 2015

Corinne Waybur Abel

June 22, 1922 - April 7, 2015

On April 7, 2015, Corinne Waybur Abel passed away peacefully at home in San Rafael. She was ninety-two.

Corinne was born to Robert and Anne Elisabeth Waybur on June 22, 1922. She spent most of her youth in Piedmont, CA, where she made lifelong friendships. Corinne often fondly described an idyllic childhood with her beloved siblings, David and Robannie. During the Depression, Corinne was sent to live with cousins in Decatur, IL, a time she referred to as loving and kind, and as the beginning of her life-long commitment to community found through devotion.

Corinne graduated from Piedmont High School and attended UC Berkeley, leaving to marry Garrett Van Horne in 1942. They raised David, Katie and Anne on the family's La Patera Ranch in Goleta, CA, where Corinne swiftly became a skilled organizer of meals, trail rides and ranch life, which she loved. Family and friends tell stories of Corinne's ability to happily feed dozens at a moment's notice, and her memories of her time at La Patera were filled with joy and a magical sense of ease. "We were just so happy," she always said. More than anything, Corinne loved to bring people together, and she made many more lifelong friendships during her time in Santa Barbara, although her best friend was always her sister-in-law, Peggy Seligman of San Francisco; together with their husbands, Corinne and Peggy traveled the world, finding stories and sharing mischief and laughter.

Corinne's life had many difficult times, yet she always responded to them with grace and optimism, ever looking for the good in people and in situations. When her marriage to Garrett ended, Corinne moved back to Northern California, where she was introduced to Brent Abel, the love of her life. She and Brent were married in 1973 at Grace Cathedral and enjoyed thirty-two years together in San Francisco, in Browns Valley at their cattle ranch Oat Hills, and in San Rafael, where she rejoiced in new friendships made at the Villa Marin. Through holidays and reunions at Oat Hills, as well as through many amazing travel opportunities, Corinne and Brent brought together David's, Katie's and Anne's families and the families of Brent's children Molly and Brent Jr. to create a loving bunch who were blessed by the Abels' generosity of spirit and who thrilled in each other's company. Corinne was never so happy as when she was with the family that she and Brent shared. She took absolute delight in each addition, whether a new child or someone's new spouse, and showered each family member with unconditional love; her family often teased Corinne about the hyperbole she employed when discussing both individuals and experiences, but basked in the glow of her adoration, positivity and sheer jubilance. She truly enjoyed the moments of her life as she was living them and in doing so, taught those around her to celebrate each day. Her unfailing love, her joy in travel and in meeting people, and her faith in humanity and the future will continue to serve as a guide and as inspiration for all whose lives were touched by her.

While Corinne often dismissed herself as "a simple ranch girl," others knew the depth of her commitment and understanding. She was an excellent horsewoman, a lover of animals and a keen gardener, and she was also a knowledgeable philanthropist and active agent for change. Corinne was a patron of the San Francisco Symphony, and was a committed benefactor to both the United Religions Initiative and the Ploughshares Fund. Just before her ninetieth birthday, Corinne appeared as a spokeswoman in a Northern California Ploughshares Mother's Day Fund video, produced to encourage nuclear disarmament. She was a dedicated supporter of UNICEF and served as the chair of the Environmental and Recycling Committee at the Villa Marin Retirement Community. She was a devoted member of the Grace Cathedral congregation for many years and took great pride at being a part of the Cathedral's work to promote interfaith and intercultural understanding. In the final years of her life, Corinne became a member of the St. John's Episcopal congregation in Ross, where she was deeply involved in supporting the Global AIDS Interfaith Alliance.

Referred to by her loving family variously as Mimi, Gigi, Pinny, Connie and Mom, Corinne leaves a long legacy of love and joy, including her children David Van Horne of Santa Barbara; Katherine Van Horne Rissel of Ojai; Anne Evans of Loomis; her step-children Molly Warner of Carmel Valley and Brent Abel, Jr. of Moraga; their spouses; her thirteen grandchildren and their spouses; her eight great-grandchildren and her many nephews and nieces. All wish for more time with her but take consolation at the thought of her being reunited with her darling Brent, with her parents and siblings and with her many dear friends who have already passed on. Her lightness of spirit will be sorely missed, but her warmth, compassion and brilliance will live on through the memory of her example.

A service in celebration of Corinne's life will be held in the Chapel of Grace in San Francisco's Grace Cathedral on July 15, 2015 at 2 pm. Donations in Corinne's memory may be made to the United Religions Initiative or the Ploughshares Fund.