Obituaries

Service 2:00 P.M., Sat., Jan. 30, 2010 Salinas Valley Community.

Born on January 16, 1921, in Cedros Faial, The Azores. Passed away on May 7, 2010, in Gilroy, CA. A visitation will take place on Wednesday, May 12,2010, from 4:00-8:00P.M., with a vigil service at 7pm, both at Johnson Funeral Home, 17720 Monterey St., Morgan Hill. A Funeral Mass will take place on Thursday, May 13 at St. Catherine Catholic Church, 17400 Peak Ave., Morgan Hill. Interment to follow at Calvary Cemetery in San Jose.

Joan Bitner was born Joan Marlene Hagen July}7, 1937 and passed suddenly on May 28, 2008 at her home in Gilroy, CA. She was born in Renovo, PA where she spent her youth and met and married George H. Bitner in 1957. With her husband she raised four children, living in Colorado and Montana before settling in California. She will be remembered by her loved ones as a devoted and caring wife and mother as well as a warm hearted lover of animals and flowers. Joan is survived by her husband George; children Kathryn, Robert, Thomas, and Gregory; siblings Charles and Patty; and grandchildren Eric, Alex, Jennifer and Joseph. Funeral Mass Monday, June 2, 2008 – 10:00 A.M. at St. Mary's Church, Gilroy. Family would appreciate donations to the Humane Society. Arrangements by Habing Family Funeral Home, Gilroy.

Passed away in San Jose. Son of Michael and Ashley Lum

Survived by her husband, Carl Swanberg of Morgan Hill, CA and 3 children, Steven, Chuck, and Janice Horne of Colorado Springs, CO.

David, beloved son and brother, passed away at his Sunnyvale home on January 27, 2008. He is survived by his sister, Zena (Bret) Hollingsworth of Morgan Hill; brother, Eric Wojcieszak of San Jose and his nephew, Bret Jr. of Morgan Hill. He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.

Betty J. Thiessen passed away at her Hollister residence after a more than two year battle with brain cancer surrounded by her family, almost five years after losing her husband Dale W. Thiessen to colon cancer. Betty, who was better known to her friends as Jodi was born in Reedley, Ca to Al and Leona Schulz, the only girl in a family of five. Jodi spent most of her childhood in Dinuba, CA. Growing up, Jodi found a love of music and became an accomplished pianist. Using her talents she devoted many years playing the piano at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, she played in the hand bell choir, and taught in the primary and junior classes. Jodi also devoted her time taking courses to become an ordained minister from the Online Bible Collage. Jodi used her relationship with God to give her comfort and strength. No matter how bad she was feeling, she put on a smile, a little makeup, her heels and soldiered on. If asked how she was doing, she would smile and say "Oh Hey!" Jodi was a very passionate person and if you wanted to see her passion, you just had to start up a conversation about religion, or better yet about politics. But if you found yourself with an opposite view from hers you better have your ducks in a row because Jodi argued to win. One of her favorite sayings was "There is no use in arguing unless you are right!"

Virginia passed away at Valley House Rehabilitation Facility in Santa Clara at the age of 91. Virginia, a long time resident of Morgan Hill, was born in Tontitown, AR. The daughter of Edward and Rosa Pellin of Gilroy, she was married to Rino Marino Tonus. Together they proudly owned and operated The Villa Restaurant in Morgan Hill for many years. She was preceded in death by her husband, and her brothers Albert, Richard, and Marion. She is survived by her son Robert Michael Tonus, sisters Florence Rosso of Penn Valley, CA and Sister Mary Eugenia Pellin of Barling, AR, sister-in-law Evelyn Pellin of Hollister, and numerous nieces and nephews. Friends are invited to her viewing on Friday, June 12, 2009 from 9:00-11:00 A.M. and to a celebration of her life starting at 11:00 A.M. at the Johnson Funeral Home in Morgan Hill. Private interment will follow.