My Grandma had a great sense of humor and was known for her creativity. She had a gift for finding the beauty in any object or person, and she carried that into everything she did.

One of my favorite memories was going to ReStore with her and seeing all the furniture she refurbished. She taught me that creativity is seeing potential where others can’t. We walked to the Bend Burger Company, where she bought me my first malt, and we enjoyed our bacon burgers together.

I will always remember going to Grandma’s house, greeted with a hug and a juice squeeze. We would play the “Boogie” game on the Wii, where she would watch her grandkids play and occasionally step in to show us how it’s done.

Grandma was one of my biggest supporters, always believing I could reach my goals. Her confidence in me and encouragement are things I’ll carry with me always.

I had a paper route starting when I was 12 and dad would join me on Saturdays and we would end by riding our bikes to Winchell's for donuts.

One day mom asked to join us and we did the usual routine and mom also joined us at Winchell's.

The three of us sat down and began eating and then dad and I turned to each other and began laughing out loud at mom.

Dad says to her, "Chris, has no one ever taught you how to eat a jelly donut?"

Mom didn't understand, but she had donut jelly running down her hand.

Dad was an engineer as a profession, and more importantly, at heart.

So, dad begins explaining that she should think of the donut as a bladder and any fluid inside will seep out of the weakest point — in this case, the hole!

She had bit into the donut from the "side" and the jelly had squirted out of the hole and ran down her hand.

For you kids out there, you're supposed to start eating jelly donuts from the hole. LOL

Mom did teach me about driving when I was maybe eight or so... while she was driving I asked her how she stays centered in her lane.

She told me that she uses the crease running down the center of the hood as a guide. So, I took that to heart.

But I soon realized that not all cars had that crease on them and I carried that worry with me for years.

Oh. I just remembered this so I'll throw it in too. One day while we were all still living in Tustin, I pulled into the driveway and dad begins telling me what just happened to him.

He told me that he was driving down the street (Bryant, I think) and he had to maneuver to avoid a car coming from the opposite direction. He said that car was driving with both left tires on the painted median, like a slot car.

As he got closer, he realized it was me! LOL

If only that car had a crease down the hood to guide me...

Since I'm zipping along here... I also remember a family trip on the west coast, ending inches from Canada.

In Washington, we took a ferry to one of the San Juan Islands and dad showed me a VW Bug and informed me that they were the only water-proof automobiles.

That information caused me great concern and I queried him about why he would take us on a ferry with a sinkable vehicle! LOL

I miss the days in the sun swimming at Autonetics and fishing in the company pond with mom reliably present watching over us. I miss her taking us to garage sales and shopping (she was easy to find by looking over the tops of the shelves).

I also know mom enjoyed being a mom and dad's wife.

Life is so different with them both gone...

For you kids out there, besides the lesson about how to properly eat jelly donuts, remember that life is precious.

I know you've heard that before, but really... it is.

I will always remember Grandma for her incredible decoration skills. She really had such a gift for making any space feel well decorated and beautiful. I always thought it was so admirable how much she loved volunteering her time at Restore and putting her talents to meaningful use.

When I took a ceramics class in high school, she was one of my biggest supporters. She truly cherished my art and even asked to hang some of my work in her home. That meant so much to me.

As a kid, I always loved visiting her. Staycations at her house were always something to look forward to. Juice Squeeze, cinnamon/sugar toast, and Truffles. My trips to Eagle Crest were always special.

Grandma was always genuinely interested in my life and was proud to see me following my career dreams. Her encouragement meant everything.

Her cooking will be missed!

There were lots of fun and beautiful moments with Grandma “CoCo” but here are some of my favorites:

- Traveling across Illinois and Indiana to attend her 50th High School Graduation with Howard and meeting her friends and family in the area 

- Sleep overs at the “candy factory” on Mauna Loa or playing Wii bowling at Eagle Crest

- Stopping by Eagle Crest after playing basketball to have some of her delicious cooking. Grandma Chris had the best spaghetti recipe 

- Seeing her at my basketball & water polo games, and high school and college graduations

- Grandma Chris had a sneaky big appetite; she could crush an In-n-Out double-double or some Hardy’s wings + a shake with ease

- Grandma was a very skilled painter and interior designer. She had a great eye for art, and created chic spaces perfect for hosting others

- Grandma taught me about my favorite puzzles and was generous in sharing some of her secrets with Sudoku and crosswords

There are so many stories and memories of Mom. However, I believe many people don’t realize how adventurous she was. 

One of my most favorite experiences with her was an 8-day fishing trip in a remote part of Alaska around 2010. Mom had shared earlier that she loved fishing, but had never caught a fish. So we arranged a float plane trip to fish for salmon together, along with my son Nicolas who was about 8-years old at the time. We flew in and floated into a cabin in a remote drainage of the Denali Basin. Mom caught dozens of salmon every day, and she even cooked the salmon on a hot rock and made fish tacos!

I will never forget mom laughing, landing salmon while wearing waders, with eagles and bears very close by, and asking me over and over again what are we going to do together the next summer. 

In Loving Memory of My Mom


Not a day goes by that I don’t think of you. Your kindness, strength, and unconditional love have shaped who I am, and continues to guide me. You taught me the importance of compassion, hard work, and faith—not through words alone, but by the way you lived your life.

I miss your laughter, your warm hugs, and the way you always seemed to know the right thing to say. Though my heart aches for your presence, I feel your love in the quiet moments and see your light in the little blessings of each day, and I know you are where you always wanted to be: “With Howard.”

I am grateful for every memory we shared and every lesson you gave.

I love you forever, Mom, and look forward to the day I will see you and Dad again.

With Love,Kathy

every time I have glazed carrots I think about Chris .. she gave me her recipe and said “Sherrie.. you must slice them in the diagonal.. changes them from carrots to an elegant side dish” Cris was in every way.. ELEGANT .. I have Soo many fun memories with her , Howard .. my husband Eugene. We raised our children together in Tustin and constantly gathered as friends 🩵

I know your entrance into Heaven was an ELEGANT AFFAIR.. with Howard there to EMBRACE YOU🩵

Love

Sherrie

What a loss for the family.  I remember meeting Chris when Howie, my big brother, came home from college and introduced us to Chris. We all loved her. What a great combination -- Howard and Chris!  He couldn't say enough good stuff about her. We were so happy for him! And happy for all of us since she was now joining our family!  Oh Chris, how we loved you. Thank you for all your good spirit, sense of humor and, most of all, your love.  I can see Howie and Chris now, embracing in Heaven, and Howie cracking a joke, "Where've you been?" 

I can hear Chris' laughter just by thinking of her. She was so generous with her caring for others. Howie loved her So much and he was so proud of her many accomplishments. 

We will miss her. We will never forget her. May she be reunited with Howie and rest in peace with Jesus. 

Cassie and Tom Padon