Anita was the oldest child of Joe and Annie Maciel and was born in Warm Springs, now a part of the city of Fremont. She was a lifelong resident of Warm Springs. She was almost 20 when she married Tony DeValle, who was ten years her senior. They had one child, Gregory, who was born ten years after their marriage. Anita doted on her son and was very adept in her role as housewife and mother. She supported her husband and son in their farming endeavors and took care of her husband in his last years until his death in 1983.
Anita had a life long interest in, and loved to watch, cooking shows on television. Her interest showed in the creativity she put into preparing her dishes, often adding a garnish of some sort for "eye appeal". She made a wonderful potato salad, prune cake and chicken kale soup. She loved to talk about the planned menu of each holiday event in her household. She enjoyed potlucks and took great care in deciding what to take to these events. She loved to enjoy 'tea and toast" with friends. When dining out, she would always emphasize the word "HOT" when asking for hot tea. She brought an incredulous smile to her niece Susan's face one day when she told her that she was only going to cook a vegetable enough to "make it sweat".....lingo she learned on a cooking show!
She also was interested in local travel and liked to watch the program "Backroads" which highlighted California locations. She had a kitchen magnet collection on her refrigerator and although she could not travel much, dreamed of her family friends bringing her magnets from each of the United States. The California Missions, along with the state bird, the quail, flower, the poppy and the monarch butterfly were some of Anita's favorite symbols. Anita, Tony and Gregory enjoyed little trips to the coast while their son was young. Later, as a widow, Anita was able to travel to Hawaii with her cousins and to the Azores with her sister, Isabel, brother-in-law Ernie Vargas and niece Susan. Those trips were very much some of Anita's most cherished memories.
Another interest in her later years, was watching the shows which sold dolls on television. She often told the story that she had only one doll growing up, that was given to her as a "hand-me-down" from some spinster sisters. Anita loved the doll, that was dressed in blue and was heart broken when a visiting little boy, Vernon Vargas, a cousin, broke her doll. Anita was always up late at night as she had to monitor her blood sugar and possibly have a snack before she retired and these shows fit her entertainment bill. She prayed the rosary everyday as was the part of a routine that her mother had instilled in her.
She often lamented that she had not finished high school as she was needed to help care for her little brother at home. She did not regret the fact that her brother Manuel was almost like her own child and even called her "mama" when he was a baby. She smiled when she said that. She did feel that she was hampered by not completing her education and did not feel confident in spelling and some language skills. She was very bright and had a good grasp of "the business world" and seemed to enjoy watching over her personal financial interests. Her listening skills and memory were outstanding.
Her life long cousins and friends were Evelyn Rose, Rosalind Smith and Theresa Sarmento. "The cousins" enjoyed outings together, especially attending together the meetings and activities of the S.P.R.S.I. Evelyn would often gather the cousins together to share a meal at her house. Not too long before her last illness, Anita carefully planned a reciprocal party at her own house and invited her cousins. Her neighbor, Donna Cesare, was also a very special friend to her, attending to many everyday needs in her last years. Her nephew, Maurice Vargas, helped Anita with lots of odds and ends like putting out her garbage cans every week until her last illness.
Her niece, Susan Murphy, was also her close friend in her last decade as they shared in the care of Anita's mother and Susan's grandmother, Annie Maciel. This common concern brought them together in a friendship that blossomed in the years before Anita's death and was very cherished by both of them. They shared an interest in the old days of Warm Springs and Susan was able to benefit from Anita's keen memory of the past. Weekly phone calls were a pattern with the two up until her last illness. Susan was so grateful for all of the support Anita gave in in some of the difficult times that she had in her life, especially in the help she gave Susan in the last days of her mother, Isabel Vargas' life. Anita moved to Tracy to help in the household and gave Susan the freedom to completely devote herself to her mother as Anita was in the background, cooking, washing and helping in every way that she could.
Her brother, Tony, while battling his own health problems, was a faithful visitor to Anita in her last year. He also had grown even closer to Anita in her last years as they shared a concern for their mother. Tony would often travel from Vernalis to pick up Anita, drive to Sacramento to visit their mother, and then take Anita home before returning home to Vernalis all in one day. This gave them many hours to share the lives and concerns.
Anita very much enjoyed her independent life at home in her last years. She constantly had to work against the ravages of diabetes, dealing with, a heart attack, loss of vision, repeated circulatory problems, leg, heart and eye surgeries, the loss of a toe, and finally a stroke. She was very courageous in facing all of these trials. Although she had to rely on the help of neighbors, relatives and friends for her doctor appointments and shopping needs she remained reluctant to leave the home that she loved. She also shared her love, life and home in later years with her granddaughter, Celese, who lived with her before her own marriage. She very much enjoyed sharing the plans for Celese's wedding with her grandchild, having never had a daughter of her own. Her son Gregory and his wife Jane moved to Warm Springs to care for her after her stroke and she was able to remain in her home to the end.
(by her niece Susan Vargas Murphy)
Alameda Times-Star 11/20/01:
She resided in Alameda County for 84 years, and was a homemaker for 64 years. She was also a member of S.P.R.S.I. of Warm Springs, and a member of U.P.P.C of Mission San Jose. She was preceded in death by her husband Tony De Valle; and is survived by her son, Gregory De Valle; granddaughter, Celese Berkompas; brother, Tony Maciel; grandson-in-law, David Berkompas; sister-in-law, Mary Maciel; daughter-in-law, May Jane De Valle.
Copyright Susan Vargas Murphy. All rights reserved.
Anita had a life long interest in, and loved to watch, cooking shows on television. Her interest showed in the creativity she put into preparing her dishes, often adding a garnish of some sort for "eye appeal". She made a wonderful potato salad, prune cake and chicken kale soup. She loved to talk about the planned menu of each holiday event in her household. She enjoyed potlucks and took great care in deciding what to take to these events. She loved to enjoy 'tea and toast" with friends. When dining out, she would always emphasize the word "HOT" when asking for hot tea. She brought an incredulous smile to her niece Susan's face one day when she told her that she was only going to cook a vegetable enough to "make it sweat".....lingo she learned on a cooking show!
She also was interested in local travel and liked to watch the program "Backroads" which highlighted California locations. She had a kitchen magnet collection on her refrigerator and although she could not travel much, dreamed of her family friends bringing her magnets from each of the United States. The California Missions, along with the state bird, the quail, flower, the poppy and the monarch butterfly were some of Anita's favorite symbols. Anita, Tony and Gregory enjoyed little trips to the coast while their son was young. Later, as a widow, Anita was able to travel to Hawaii with her cousins and to the Azores with her sister, Isabel, brother-in-law Ernie Vargas and niece Susan. Those trips were very much some of Anita's most cherished memories.
Another interest in her later years, was watching the shows which sold dolls on television. She often told the story that she had only one doll growing up, that was given to her as a "hand-me-down" from some spinster sisters. Anita loved the doll, that was dressed in blue and was heart broken when a visiting little boy, Vernon Vargas, a cousin, broke her doll. Anita was always up late at night as she had to monitor her blood sugar and possibly have a snack before she retired and these shows fit her entertainment bill. She prayed the rosary everyday as was the part of a routine that her mother had instilled in her.
She often lamented that she had not finished high school as she was needed to help care for her little brother at home. She did not regret the fact that her brother Manuel was almost like her own child and even called her "mama" when he was a baby. She smiled when she said that. She did feel that she was hampered by not completing her education and did not feel confident in spelling and some language skills. She was very bright and had a good grasp of "the business world" and seemed to enjoy watching over her personal financial interests. Her listening skills and memory were outstanding.
Her life long cousins and friends were Evelyn Rose, Rosalind Smith and Theresa Sarmento. "The cousins" enjoyed outings together, especially attending together the meetings and activities of the S.P.R.S.I. Evelyn would often gather the cousins together to share a meal at her house. Not too long before her last illness, Anita carefully planned a reciprocal party at her own house and invited her cousins. Her neighbor, Donna Cesare, was also a very special friend to her, attending to many everyday needs in her last years. Her nephew, Maurice Vargas, helped Anita with lots of odds and ends like putting out her garbage cans every week until her last illness.
Her niece, Susan Murphy, was also her close friend in her last decade as they shared in the care of Anita's mother and Susan's grandmother, Annie Maciel. This common concern brought them together in a friendship that blossomed in the years before Anita's death and was very cherished by both of them. They shared an interest in the old days of Warm Springs and Susan was able to benefit from Anita's keen memory of the past. Weekly phone calls were a pattern with the two up until her last illness. Susan was so grateful for all of the support Anita gave in in some of the difficult times that she had in her life, especially in the help she gave Susan in the last days of her mother, Isabel Vargas' life. Anita moved to Tracy to help in the household and gave Susan the freedom to completely devote herself to her mother as Anita was in the background, cooking, washing and helping in every way that she could.
Her brother, Tony, while battling his own health problems, was a faithful visitor to Anita in her last year. He also had grown even closer to Anita in her last years as they shared a concern for their mother. Tony would often travel from Vernalis to pick up Anita, drive to Sacramento to visit their mother, and then take Anita home before returning home to Vernalis all in one day. This gave them many hours to share the lives and concerns.
Anita very much enjoyed her independent life at home in her last years. She constantly had to work against the ravages of diabetes, dealing with, a heart attack, loss of vision, repeated circulatory problems, leg, heart and eye surgeries, the loss of a toe, and finally a stroke. She was very courageous in facing all of these trials. Although she had to rely on the help of neighbors, relatives and friends for her doctor appointments and shopping needs she remained reluctant to leave the home that she loved. She also shared her love, life and home in later years with her granddaughter, Celese, who lived with her before her own marriage. She very much enjoyed sharing the plans for Celese's wedding with her grandchild, having never had a daughter of her own. Her son Gregory and his wife Jane moved to Warm Springs to care for her after her stroke and she was able to remain in her home to the end.
(by her niece Susan Vargas Murphy)
Alameda Times-Star 11/20/01:
She resided in Alameda County for 84 years, and was a homemaker for 64 years. She was also a member of S.P.R.S.I. of Warm Springs, and a member of U.P.P.C of Mission San Jose. She was preceded in death by her husband Tony De Valle; and is survived by her son, Gregory De Valle; granddaughter, Celese Berkompas; brother, Tony Maciel; grandson-in-law, David Berkompas; sister-in-law, Mary Maciel; daughter-in-law, May Jane De Valle.
Copyright Susan Vargas Murphy. All rights reserved.
Anita was the oldest child of Joe and Annie Maciel and was born in Warm Springs, now a part of the city of Fremont. She was a lifelong resident of Warm Springs. She was almost 20 when she married Tony DeValle, who was ten years her senior. They had one child, Gregory, who was born ten years after their marriage. Anita doted on her son and was very adept in her role as housewife and mother. She supported her husband and son in their farming endeavors and took care of her husband in his last years until his death in 1983.
Anita had a life long interest in, and loved to watch, cooking shows on television. Her interest showed in the creativity she put into preparing her dishes, often adding a garnish of some sort for "eye appeal". She made a wonderful potato salad, prune cake and chicken kale soup. She loved to talk about the planned menu of each holiday event in her household. She enjoyed potlucks and took great care in deciding what to take to these events. She loved to enjoy 'tea and toast" with friends. When dining out, she would always emphasize the word "HOT" when asking for hot tea. She brought an incredulous smile to her niece Susan's face one day when she told her that she was only going to cook a vegetable enough to "make it sweat".....lingo she learned on a cooking show!
She also was interested in local travel and liked to watch the program "Backroads" which highlighted California locations. She had a kitchen magnet collection on her refrigerator and although she could not travel much, dreamed of her family friends bringing her magnets from each of the United States. The California Missions, along with the state bird, the quail, flower, the poppy and the monarch butterfly were some of Anita's favorite symbols. Anita, Tony and Gregory enjoyed little trips to the coast while their son was young. Later, as a widow, Anita was able to travel to Hawaii with her cousins and to the Azores with her sister, Isabel, brother-in-law Ernie Vargas and niece Susan. Those trips were very much some of Anita's most cherished memories.
Another interest in her later years, was watching the shows which sold dolls on television. She often told the story that she had only one doll growing up, that was given to her as a "hand-me-down" from some spinster sisters. Anita loved the doll, that was dressed in blue and was heart broken when a visiting little boy, Vernon Vargas, a cousin, broke her doll. Anita was always up late at night as she had to monitor her blood sugar and possibly have a snack before she retired and these shows fit her entertainment bill. She prayed the rosary everyday as was the part of a routine that her mother had instilled in her.
She often lamented that she had not finished high school as she was needed to help care for her little brother at home. She did not regret the fact that her brother Manuel was almost like her own child and even called her "mama" when he was a baby. She smiled when she said that. She did feel that she was hampered by not completing her education and did not feel confident in spelling and some language skills. She was very bright and had a good grasp of "the business world" and seemed to enjoy watching over her personal financial interests. Her listening skills and memory were outstanding.
Her life long cousins and friends were Evelyn Rose, Rosalind Smith and Theresa Sarmento. "The cousins" enjoyed outings together, especially attending together the meetings and activities of the S.P.R.S.I. Evelyn would often gather the cousins together to share a meal at her house. Not too long before her last illness, Anita carefully planned a reciprocal party at her own house and invited her cousins. Her neighbor, Donna Cesare, was also a very special friend to her, attending to many everyday needs in her last years. Her nephew, Maurice Vargas, helped Anita with lots of odds and ends like putting out her garbage cans every week until her last illness.
Her niece, Susan Murphy, was also her close friend in her last decade as they shared in the care of Anita's mother and Susan's grandmother, Annie Maciel. This common concern brought them together in a friendship that blossomed in the years before Anita's death and was very cherished by both of them. They shared an interest in the old days of Warm Springs and Susan was able to benefit from Anita's keen memory of the past. Weekly phone calls were a pattern with the two up until her last illness. Susan was so grateful for all of the support Anita gave in in some of the difficult times that she had in her life, especially in the help she gave Susan in the last days of her mother, Isabel Vargas' life. Anita moved to Tracy to help in the household and gave Susan the freedom to completely devote herself to her mother as Anita was in the background, cooking, washing and helping in every way that she could.
Her brother, Tony, while battling his own health problems, was a faithful visitor to Anita in her last year. He also had grown even closer to Anita in her last years as they shared a concern for their mother. Tony would often travel from Vernalis to pick up Anita, drive to Sacramento to visit their mother, and then take Anita home before returning home to Vernalis all in one day. This gave them many hours to share the lives and concerns.
Anita very much enjoyed her independent life at home in her last years. She constantly had to work against the ravages of diabetes, dealing with, a heart attack, loss of vision, repeated circulatory problems, leg, heart and eye surgeries, the loss of a toe, and finally a stroke. She was very courageous in facing all of these trials. Although she had to rely on the help of neighbors, relatives and friends for her doctor appointments and shopping needs she remained reluctant to leave the home that she loved. She also shared her love, life and home in later years with her granddaughter, Celese, who lived with her before her own marriage. She very much enjoyed sharing the plans for Celese's wedding with her grandchild, having never had a daughter of her own. Her son Gregory and his wife Jane moved to Warm Springs to care for her after her stroke and she was able to remain in her home to the end.
(by her niece Susan Vargas Murphy)
Alameda Times-Star 11/20/01:
She resided in Alameda County for 84 years, and was a homemaker for 64 years. She was also a member of S.P.R.S.I. of Warm Springs, and a member of U.P.P.C of Mission San Jose. She was preceded in death by her husband Tony De Valle; and is survived by her son, Gregory De Valle; granddaughter, Celese Berkompas; brother, Tony Maciel; grandson-in-law, David Berkompas; sister-in-law, Mary Maciel; daughter-in-law, May Jane De Valle.
Copyright Susan Vargas Murphy. All rights reserved.
Anita had a life long interest in, and loved to watch, cooking shows on television. Her interest showed in the creativity she put into preparing her dishes, often adding a garnish of some sort for "eye appeal". She made a wonderful potato salad, prune cake and chicken kale soup. She loved to talk about the planned menu of each holiday event in her household. She enjoyed potlucks and took great care in deciding what to take to these events. She loved to enjoy 'tea and toast" with friends. When dining out, she would always emphasize the word "HOT" when asking for hot tea. She brought an incredulous smile to her niece Susan's face one day when she told her that she was only going to cook a vegetable enough to "make it sweat".....lingo she learned on a cooking show!
She also was interested in local travel and liked to watch the program "Backroads" which highlighted California locations. She had a kitchen magnet collection on her refrigerator and although she could not travel much, dreamed of her family friends bringing her magnets from each of the United States. The California Missions, along with the state bird, the quail, flower, the poppy and the monarch butterfly were some of Anita's favorite symbols. Anita, Tony and Gregory enjoyed little trips to the coast while their son was young. Later, as a widow, Anita was able to travel to Hawaii with her cousins and to the Azores with her sister, Isabel, brother-in-law Ernie Vargas and niece Susan. Those trips were very much some of Anita's most cherished memories.
Another interest in her later years, was watching the shows which sold dolls on television. She often told the story that she had only one doll growing up, that was given to her as a "hand-me-down" from some spinster sisters. Anita loved the doll, that was dressed in blue and was heart broken when a visiting little boy, Vernon Vargas, a cousin, broke her doll. Anita was always up late at night as she had to monitor her blood sugar and possibly have a snack before she retired and these shows fit her entertainment bill. She prayed the rosary everyday as was the part of a routine that her mother had instilled in her.
She often lamented that she had not finished high school as she was needed to help care for her little brother at home. She did not regret the fact that her brother Manuel was almost like her own child and even called her "mama" when he was a baby. She smiled when she said that. She did feel that she was hampered by not completing her education and did not feel confident in spelling and some language skills. She was very bright and had a good grasp of "the business world" and seemed to enjoy watching over her personal financial interests. Her listening skills and memory were outstanding.
Her life long cousins and friends were Evelyn Rose, Rosalind Smith and Theresa Sarmento. "The cousins" enjoyed outings together, especially attending together the meetings and activities of the S.P.R.S.I. Evelyn would often gather the cousins together to share a meal at her house. Not too long before her last illness, Anita carefully planned a reciprocal party at her own house and invited her cousins. Her neighbor, Donna Cesare, was also a very special friend to her, attending to many everyday needs in her last years. Her nephew, Maurice Vargas, helped Anita with lots of odds and ends like putting out her garbage cans every week until her last illness.
Her niece, Susan Murphy, was also her close friend in her last decade as they shared in the care of Anita's mother and Susan's grandmother, Annie Maciel. This common concern brought them together in a friendship that blossomed in the years before Anita's death and was very cherished by both of them. They shared an interest in the old days of Warm Springs and Susan was able to benefit from Anita's keen memory of the past. Weekly phone calls were a pattern with the two up until her last illness. Susan was so grateful for all of the support Anita gave in in some of the difficult times that she had in her life, especially in the help she gave Susan in the last days of her mother, Isabel Vargas' life. Anita moved to Tracy to help in the household and gave Susan the freedom to completely devote herself to her mother as Anita was in the background, cooking, washing and helping in every way that she could.
Her brother, Tony, while battling his own health problems, was a faithful visitor to Anita in her last year. He also had grown even closer to Anita in her last years as they shared a concern for their mother. Tony would often travel from Vernalis to pick up Anita, drive to Sacramento to visit their mother, and then take Anita home before returning home to Vernalis all in one day. This gave them many hours to share the lives and concerns.
Anita very much enjoyed her independent life at home in her last years. She constantly had to work against the ravages of diabetes, dealing with, a heart attack, loss of vision, repeated circulatory problems, leg, heart and eye surgeries, the loss of a toe, and finally a stroke. She was very courageous in facing all of these trials. Although she had to rely on the help of neighbors, relatives and friends for her doctor appointments and shopping needs she remained reluctant to leave the home that she loved. She also shared her love, life and home in later years with her granddaughter, Celese, who lived with her before her own marriage. She very much enjoyed sharing the plans for Celese's wedding with her grandchild, having never had a daughter of her own. Her son Gregory and his wife Jane moved to Warm Springs to care for her after her stroke and she was able to remain in her home to the end.
(by her niece Susan Vargas Murphy)
Alameda Times-Star 11/20/01:
She resided in Alameda County for 84 years, and was a homemaker for 64 years. She was also a member of S.P.R.S.I. of Warm Springs, and a member of U.P.P.C of Mission San Jose. She was preceded in death by her husband Tony De Valle; and is survived by her son, Gregory De Valle; granddaughter, Celese Berkompas; brother, Tony Maciel; grandson-in-law, David Berkompas; sister-in-law, Mary Maciel; daughter-in-law, May Jane De Valle.
Copyright Susan Vargas Murphy. All rights reserved.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
