Emily Gomes

Emily Gomes Emily Gomes, Grandma, was born to Frank Joseph Leonardo and Emilia Gertrude Simas on May 6, 1916 in Freshwater, CA and died on October 10, 2014 in Eureka, CA. Emily lived her entire 98 years in Humboldt County. As a young child, Grandma's family moved to Crannell, CA where her father worked in the mill and she attended school. The family would later move to Samoa and, as a young woman, Grandma would meet her soon-to-be husband Everett Gomes. Grandma would often talk of her "dating" experience always having to take her sister Lena along as a chaperone. Grandma and Grandpa married in July, 1933 and spent the first month of married life traveling around the bay area. Their only son, Everett Jr was born on June 13, 1934. Grandma was a hard worker - both at and away from home. She worked many years at the California Barrel Factory in Arcata, CA sorting wood. Once the factory closed she became a maid at the prestigious Eureka Inn where she worked for 20 years before retiring. She would clean rooms for V.I.P.s like former presidents and celebrities who visited the North Coast. She took pride in her hard work and was so proud of the Inn. Grandma worked hard at home too. She was an amazing cook and loved fixing traditional Portuguese food for Dad and Grandpa. Up until the late 70's, Grandma used a wringer washing machine and hung the clothes out on the line - often in the cold of the morning only to come home after a long day's work to take them down and fold and iron. She would often iron late into the night - making sure everything was starched, folded perfectly and put away before going to bed. Family was most important to Grandma. She came from a large family and loved it when she and Grandpa took rides to Ferndale to visit her sisters & their families. When the family was together, the room was never quiet - the louder the better! Grandma is survived by daughter-in-law Jacky Riese, her grandson Mike Gomes (Karen), her granddaughters Cheri Whitfield (Stacey), Patti Clay (Chris) and Michele Rieke (Jack) along with her great-grandchildren Jason (Joe), Morgan (Jevon), Brandon (Jennifer), Justin (April), Kacy (Tyson), Kara (Jeff), Lauren (Ralph), Andrew and Celina and her great, great grandchildren Olivia, Taleah, Makayla, Navaya, Sydney, Austin, Madison, Zoe, Rylee and Brynn, her brothers Frank Leonardo Jr (Annie) and Johnny Leonardo as well as numerous nieces & nephews. Grandma was preceded in death by her parents Frank & Emilia, her husband Everett Sr., her son Everett Jr, her sisters Mary, Lily, Rosie & Lena and her brothers Frank, Joe and Tony as well as several nieces & nephews. A Mass of Christian burial will be held Friday, October 17th at 1:30 p.m. at St. Bernard's Catholic Church followed by interment at St. Bernard's Catholic Cemetery. A reception will follow. We would like to thank Dolly Frye and all of the staff at Frye's Care Home for their love, care & compassion for Grandma over the last 4 ½ years. She was "Grandma" to many and loved teaching everyone her "special" Portuguese words that she denied ever saying. Please sign the guestbook at www.times-standard.com and click on obits.