Charlene Vera Whittlesey

Charlene Vera Whittlesey, age 71, born 12 June 1949, went to meet her Heavenly Father the morning of 21 April 2021 at Adventist Hospital in Hanford after a lengthy illness. “It is a great cause of joy and rejoicing and comfort to his friends to know that a person has passed away in peace from this life, and has secured to himself a glorious resurrection.” DBY

Charlene graduated Hanford High School in 1967. While awaiting her turn for college, she proudly worked for the telephone company as an operator when there were still party lines. Charlene graduated from Fresno State, with a degree in Psychology and then a Master’s degree in Social Work. She was employed for many years with the California Department of Rehabilitation before moving into private practice as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She taught herself some Portuguese recipes and enjoyed traveling - some of her favorite touristy hotspots included Pismo, Morro and Avila Beaches, Portugal and the Azores Islands. Although Charlene’s maternal grandparents were born in the Azores, the family put down extensive roots in Hanford and Central California. For these reasons, after a short stint living in Oregon to tend to an ailing brother, she moved back to Hanford to be closer to her extensive surviving family.

Charlene’s light truly shined as a dedicated public servant. She spent most of her waking hours committed to helping others: in her employment, throughout her extended family, in the wider community, and through her faith as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Charlene enjoyed, was deeply committed to, and was widely regarded for her study of genealogy. She willingly shared her knowledge of ancestral lines with family members, friends, and Church members, as well as hundreds of people she met across the country and around the world during her investigations.

Charlene’s mother, Alvera Diane (neè Cardoza-Machado), raised Charlene’s eldest siblings with her first husband: Pearl, Lorraine, Richard, Joanne, Ernie, and Evelyn. After her first husband died, Vera, as she was known, married Charles Whittlesey, and they had four children: Charlene, Larry, Garry and Steve. Ms. Whittlesey is predeceased by her parents Charles and Vera, as well as her siblings Richard, Ernie and Steve.

She is survived by her beloved and only child David J. Weiland, III, and his wife Rosemary, two grandchildren, Catalina Micaela and Karl Friedrich Lieb Weiland, all residents in Plano, TX. In addition to her siblings, Charlene is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Graveside funeral services will be held at 10:00 on Friday, 7 May, at Hanford Cemetery, 10500 S 10th Ave, Hanford, CA 93230. Friends and family will be provided opportunities to speak of their relationship with Charlene after the service if so desired.

As an expression of sympathy and to continue Charlene’s spirit of helping others, memorial contributions may be sent to your favorite charity or to:

The Humanitarian Aid Fund,

Philanthropies,

1450 N. University Ave,

Provo, UT 84604