Thomas, Nell

our beloved mother and friend has gone to our Father in Heaven on March 9, 2010. Born to Francisco and Elena Ramonet Beltran , October 9,1928 in Atwood, CA. Nell moved to Phoenix as a young child with her family from California where she made her home until she was a young woman. Then she moved to Casa Grande and went to work. There Nell met a handsome young man, Vernon Thomas, her husband. They became husband and wife for 47 years and made their home in the Phoenix area where they would raise six children. Nell worked for the J. C. Penny Co. for 25 years before retiring to run Vernon’s Pest Control with her husband; where she continued to work until recently. Mrs. Thomas was preceded in death by her husband Vernon, sons Vernon Jr., John Patrick, and sisters Mary Sandoval and Marcella Gustafson. Nell is survived by brother Frank R. Beltran, sisters Catherine Randosh and Margaret Montoya, children; sons Michael L. and Gary M., daughters Mary F. Kinion, Cecilia A. Lukavics and Veronica A. Bourque. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 7 great- grandchildren. She will be deeply missed by all. Visitation will be from 5:00-8:00 pm, with a Rosary at 7:00 pm, Sunday, March 14 at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road. Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 am Monday, March 15 at St Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 6200 N. Central Ave. Interment will follow at St Francis Catholic Cemetary. Please sign guest book at www.whitneymurphyfuneralhome.com

age 93, born June 12, 1916, Houghton, Michigan, died March 6, 2010, Phoenix, Arizona. Her parents were James M. Ovens (Arizona pioneer) and Marguerite A. Ovens. She attended St. Mary’s Elementary School, Phoenix Union High School and was a member of “X” Club, Phoenix College and was a member of KDN, and graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting. Margaret had a strong commitment to her community and to her church. Her contributions include being one of twenty-five organizing members of St. Joseph’s Hospital Women’s Auxilary, Phoenix Art Museum docent, board member of Historical League of Arizona Historical Society, wife of District Governor of Rotary & President of Rotaryanns (1983-84), member of Arizona Academy Town Hall, member of First Families of Arizona, member of Beleek Collectors Society, member & President of Collectors Study Club of Phoenix Art Museum, service on Board of Directors Catholic Family & Community Services – Catholic Charities. She was the recipient of the Jesuit Fathers of St. Francis Parish Ignation Award in recognition for service in St. Francis parish. She is preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Dr. John F. Prince and by her brother Dr. James M. Ovens. She is survived by her sister Mary Ellen Yakeley and brother Dr. Paul Ovens; four children, Mary Martha, John, Terry Prince Sims (Bill) & Michael; six grandchildren Matthew, Brittany and Hawley Prince, Jonathan, Christopher and Jacqueline Prince Sims; and by a great-granddaughter, Kylee Mae Prince. Visitation is Thursday, March 11, at Brophy Chapel, 4701 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix from 6 -8 p.m., with the Rosary at 7p.m. Funeral Mass is at 10a.m., Friday, March 12, at St. Mary’s Basilica, 231 N. 3rd Street, Phoenix. Contributions may be made to HOSPICE of the Valley, Beatitudes Campus, Care Center-Skilled Nursing, 1712 W. Glendale Avenue, Phx., AZ 85021 or to the John F. Prince, PhD, class of 1930, and Margaret Ovens Prince Memorial Scholarship, Brophy College Prep.

92, of Phoenix, AZ passed away peacefully in her home on March 6, 2010. She is survived by her son Duane Mead and his wife Martha, grandchildren Cynthia Mead, Michael Mead and his wife Terri and great-grandson Connor. Visitation will be 10:30-11:00 am, followed by a Funeral Service at 11:00 am, Friday, March 12, at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Rd. She will be laid to rest at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery following the Funeral Service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85015.

87, was born on November 23, 1922 and passed away on March 5, 2010. Ed is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Pearl Musenbrock; his children, Barbara Salazar, Kathy (Tom) Shires and Phil (Carole) Musenbrock; two granddaughters, Shannon (Jeremy) Braccio and Heather (Chel) Moore; three great grandchildren, Sophia, Brandon and Colton; three brothers, Tony, Joe (Rita) and Paul (Joyce); two sisters, Rita Ripperda and Mary Ripperda. Ed was a businessman in the Phoenix-Scottsdale area since 1956. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He enjoyed traveling, fishing and antique cars, but his family and friends were everything to him. Visitation will be held at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM with a Spiritual Service at 7:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 5045 E. Thomas Rd., Phoenix on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in Ed’s memory to any of the following charities: Society of St. Vincent de Paul, P.O. Box 13600, Phoenix, AZ 85002; Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014 or St. Theresa Perpetual Fund, 5045 E. Thomas Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85018.

89, was born in Gallup, NM on September 10, 1920 and passed away on March 1, 2010. Paulita lived in both Phoenix and Ft. McDowell, AZ and loved to play bingo. Paulita is survived by her siblings: Mary Milligan, Ambrosia Baca, Ida Rivera, Irene Gastelum, Gerald Montoya and Diana Corrales; many grandchildren and great grandchildren – five generations of family. Visitation will be held at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix on Monday, March 8, 2010 from 5:00 – 8:00 PM with a Rosary at 7:00 PM. Funeral Services will be held at Immaculate Heart Church, 909 E. Washington St., Phoenix, Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery.

Beloved husband, father and grandfather, and Phoenix’s first Hispanic city councilman, passed away on Friday, March 5, 2010, surrounded by family in his home in Phoenix. He was 100. Diaz was born in Flagstaff, AZ in 1909 and moved to Phoenix as a child. He became the manager of the Luhr’s properties, a position he held throughout his career. As a young man, he was invited by Barry Goldwater to participate on the City Charter government ticket for city council. He was elected and served on the city council in the early 1950’s as a councilmember and vice mayor. He remained politically active throughout his life, serving on numerous boards and commissions, including school boards, heading the “Viva Kennedy” campaign in Arizona, and serving on the Clinton administration’s White House Council on Aging. In 2007, the city of Phoenix named the Adam Diaz Senior Center in his honor. He is survived by his wife Francis, his daughters Sally and Olivia, and his son Joe,
step-children Bobby, Frank, Hector, Ana, Susan, Maria and Victoria, along with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held Wednesday, March 10, 2010 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM with a Rosary from 7:00 – 8:00 PM at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix. A Funeral Mass will be held Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 10:00 AM at St. Anthony Catholic Church, 909 S. 1st Ave., Phoenix. Interment will follow at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery.

90 of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away on February 28, 2010. He is predeceased by Mary Margaret Taylor Williams (wife) and George Lee Williams (son). He is survived by son Bill Williams, Jr, daughters Evelyn Grace, Mary Castleberry and Deborah Ermoian, 12 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. Services have been held. Donations may be made to Hospice of the Valley.

La Verne D. Zidnak passed away in the early morning of February 27, 2010, in Phoenix, AZ. surrounded by her loving family.
She was born on March 9, 1924 in Dunsmir, CA. to Mildred and Herbert Dabney.
In 1947 she married Dr. Pete Zidnak, Professor and Chairman of the Manpower Administration Department in the School of Business @ San Jose State University.
La Verne was an executive in the insurance and loan industry with California Financial Corporation, the parent firm of Security Savings and Loan Association where she was elected Assistant Vice President. In her 20 years with Security Savings she developed, coordinated, and managed complex insurance operations for both the home loan and mortgage industry, and held key titles in several of the Association’s affiliate and subsidiary companies.

Following Pete’s death, wishing to be in the company of her
beloved sister and brother in in-law, Betty and Newton Rosenzweig, she purchased a home in Phoenix.
La Verne was pre-deceased by her husband: Pete, her parents, and a brother: Allen Mudersbach. She is survived by her sister: Mrs. Newton “Betty” Rosenzweig of Phoenix, brother and sister in law: John and Kathleen Mudersbach of Cottonwood, AZ., several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
Private services have been held.
In lieu of flowers a contribution may be made in memory of
La Verne Zidnak to Hospice of the Valley,1510 E. Flower Phoenix, AZ 85014 or the Tower Foundation of San Jose State University for the Dr. Pete and La Verne Zidnak/NCPGA Golf Scholarship Fund c/o San Jose State University Tower Foundation One Washington Square San Jose, CA. 95192-0184
Arrangements entrusted to Post Scripts by Posey and
Whitney Murphy Funeral Home. Phoenix, AZ.

Eighteen years ago, a small boy with a golden heart took his first breath and set about his life’s work. Perhaps he knew he was on the fast track, for he mastered the lessons of childhood in no time flat. He seemed to understand what many of us overlook: that life is a momentary gift, and that love is its greatest joy. When tragedy came to claim this exquisite soul from our midst, thousands came together in sorrow and prayer. We yearned for one kind of miracle, and have been given another: Now the radiant boy dwells within us, and his own golden heart sustains another life. His organs have restored life’s promise for many families – giving rise to greater miracles than we might have imagined. Thus has loss opened the way to new life, to love, and to rejoicing. Robby is survived by his loving parents Dan and Landis, his brother Danny, and sister Frances, grandparents John Mayasich, and Shirley Caldwell and many loving aunts, uncles and cousins. A Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 pm, with a Vigil at 7:00 pm, Sunday, March 8, 2010 at Brophy Chapel, 4701 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix. The Funeral Mass will be at 1:00 pm, Monday, March 9, 2010 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 4715 N. Central Ave, Phoenix. Donations can be made to the Robert Mayasich Memorial Fund at Brophy College Prepatory, 4701 N. Central Ave., Phx AZ 85012 -1723.

Passed away Tuesday, March 2, 2010 in Phoenix AZ surrounded by her family. Clara was a wonderful waitress, a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother and a great friend. She worked hard all of her life. She enjoyed life to the fullest. When she was very young, she traveled around the United States. In her travels, she fell in love with the great city of Phoenix and lived here for 40 years. She is survived by her daughter, Pamela Moynier, grandchildren Steven, Clara, Rodney and Pamela, and great grandchildren Bruce, Cristopher, Darryne and Rhiannon. Visitation will be 10:00-11:00 am, followed by a Funeral Service at 11:00 am, Monday, March 8, at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road. Interment will be at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery. Family requests donations be made to the Humane Society, 9226 N. 13th Ave., Phx., AZ 85021