Memories of Candice "Candy" Mathews

In memory of

Candice "Candy" Mathews

San Jose, CA, USA

August 16, 1948 - November 17, 2020

Aug 16, 1948 - Nov 17, 2020

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Brad Mathews

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We would love to hear your memories and stories of Candy. You can add a story, quick condolence or a photo/video (we would love any photos you may have!) If you know her well enough please add some entries to the Favorites and Timeline sections, or you can suggest an one to be added.

If you see an error dates or details please send Brad an email (bradlymathews@gmail.com) and he will get them corrected.

Thank you and enjoy celebrating a wonderful life with us.

Thank you, the Mathews Family

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Zhanna Shpits

Dear Laurie and Brad,

I am with you. Always.

Much love,

Zhanna

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Joren Mathews

Zhanna Shpits

Dear Ms. Candy!

It is my honor to have known you for so many years...13, I believe.
My son Yannis (now 16 y.o.) and my daughter Yael (now 15 y.o.) both went to Elan Esprit Preschool and loved every minute of it!

They would always have stories to tell about you driving them to the different field trips that were happening EVERY DAY! It was so gratifying for me as a parent to know that my kids were constantly learning something new and getting new FUN daily experiences.
Being a teacher myself, I could immediately sense the love, care, kindness and such thoughtfulness behind the walls of Elan Preschool.

Starting from Ms. Laurie and all the teachers and staff, it was clear to me that it was not just a daycare.
It was a Life Academy- a perfect place for kids to BE!

I want to thank you, Ms. Candy, for being a FREE Spirit and a role model for me personally, too.

Once at a late lunch meeting at one of Milpitas Starbucks with Laurie, you and myself, we were laughing so hard that I sheepishly said," Ms. Candy, I think we are a bit too loud."
Your casual response to me still stays until this day,
"Zhanna, I promise you that one day you will reach a point in your life when you will simply allow yourself to say what you want to say, when you want to say it, and how loud or quiet you choose to be. You will allow yourself to be you. The opinions of others won't matter."
I listened.
I learned.
A couple of days ago my son Yannis, our dog Luna and I were passing by a house that was beautifully decorated for Christmas. Not only the house itself but the whole front yard was generously lit up with joyful holiday lights!
Without any hesitation, I came up to the owner who happened to be diligently putting the star on top of his Christmas tree in front of the house and asked," Excuse me, Sir, did Santa confirm with you that he is distributing presents in your front yard at 6 pm on the 25th?”
"Of Course!", the man laughed.
Yannis rolled his eyes and blushed.
"Mom, and you are still wondering why I do not want to go on walks with you?!!!! My IQ drops every time I do that!!!:)))"

Yannis knows how to crack me up!

The lesson learned:

I was being myself. And I sure was NOT interested in what others thought of me. It is my turn now to carry the Torch of your wisdom, Ms. Candy, and pass on your lessons to everyone I love.

Ms. Candy!

You have been my Teacher and Mentor in many ways.

You, Laurie, Brad, Tristan and the whole Elan Preschool family are my family, too.

I am beyond grateful for you.

I know you hear me, Ms. Candy!

With much love and music in my heart,

Rest in Peace.

Zhanna

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Joren Mathews

Ryan Stevens

Your mom was always encouraging you and promoting your education. I remember some of the toys you had: Lava lamp and a real rubber band powered ornithopter that worked. I remember Sean explaining to me how the lava lamp worked. They say that the intelligence of children is influenced mostly by the mother. Brad and Sean were two of the smartest kids I ever knew. Always interested in understanding basic ideas like centrifugal force, inertia and how temperature and pressure worked - - That's where I learned these things - from you - not from a book or in a classroom. Some of my first understandings of economics and inflation and money came from Brad. I don't remember much specifically about your mom but that she was always nice and drove a Subaru! But indirectly, I benefited from her positive influences through her sons.

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Joren Mathews

Brad Mathews

Mount Shasta, California, USA

Mom, Joren and I are mountain biking on Mt Shasta one year and we are riding a kinda tricky 6 inch single track on the side of the mountain. If you go to far to the left you might go tumbling down the mountain a little ways kinda tricky.

Well. she went a little too far to the left and the front tire dug into some soft sand and sent her falling straight down to the ground. She saved it, but cracked a rib in the process.

Tough old bird she is, she made it down the mountain, if a little slowly, and home before confirming the damage at the doctor the next day.

A month or so later, we are at Northstar at Tahoe and we come across a small rock garden that required a fairly quick right turn at the end onto a wooden bridge over a small stream.

I didn't quite make the turn all the way and went off the side of the bridge into the creek. Not a long drop, but the baby-head sized rocks did a good job twisting my ankle.

Luckily mom is there with an ace bandage conveniently stored around her ribs. She wraps my ankle tight and we make it down the mountain, if a little slowly.

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Ryan Stevens

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Brad Mathews

1998

So I'm watching TV one weekend day and there is a knock on my door. It's mom with a big smile on her face. Behind her is a brand new silver Acura Integra coupe. The windows are down and Rush is blaring out of the car.

She loved that car, almost as much as the BMW 2002 she had in her 20's, and its still sitting in the driveway even though she has not been able to drive for a few years. She put a bike rack on the top and it made many a trip to Tahoe and Mammoth for mountain biking.

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