Dolores June Perez

July 12, 1925-May 29, 2012

On this day of May 29, 2012, at 6:45PM, our beloved mother, grand and great grandmother, Dolores June Perez, passed peacefully from this life and into the next, surrounded at home by her children and numerous grandchildren. Dee, as she was best known, was born in Selma, CA. to Joe and Winnie Lafontaine. At age 9 the family moved to Santa Cruz, CA., where Dee enrolled into Galt Elementary School. In 1938 she entered Branciforte Jr. High School where she proceeded to make the school honor roll. While in the 9th grade she joined the year book staff. In 2010, in support of the “B40 Preservation Society”, she donated her original copy of the 1940 Branciforte Jr. High School year book back to the school. Dee went on to attend and graduate from Santa Cruz High School with honors. She was married twice in her 86 years, first in 1943 to Harry Nelson Dean of Santa Cruz, two years later giving birth to her first son, Gregory Lee Dean of Watsonville, CA. She remarried in 1948, Fred L. (Buz) Perez of Santa Cruz, giving birth in 1949 to her only daughter, Kathryn Lou Perez-Palmer of Watsonville, CA. In 1951, Dee gave birth to her second son, Fred J. Perez of Aptos, CA. Dee was involved throughout her children’s lives, supporting all of their individual activities including music, dancing, Scouts, Job’s Daughters and numerous sporting events. She retired after 25 years of working at Pacific Telephone in Watsonville, as a Business office Representative. Dee remainedactive in the community, supporting multiple organizations and charities. In 1970 she was elected president of the Watsonville chapter of the Business and Professional Women’s Association. During her “golden”years she became increasingly interested in genealogy, spending countless hours researching her family’s heritage, traveling statewide, meeting long lost relatives and making new friends wherever she went. She leaves in her legacy, 10 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered for her unselfish support, understanding, kindness, generosity and love. The family would like to extend their thanks to everyone for their friendship, support and prayers during our mother’s life, with a very special thanks to Hospice of Santa Cruz for all that they do.

God bless, protect and welcome our

Mother into your loving arms of eternal peace.

For the complete article see the 06-09-2012 issue.

Click here to purchase an electronic version of the 06-09-2012 paper.

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