She was born in Modesto, CA. She graduated from: Calla Elementary School District, May 29, 1935; Manteca Union High School, May 9, 1939; and Modesto Business College May 8, 1940, with a secretarial major. While in High school she performed in the chorus for the Music Festival at Lodi Union High, May 22, 1937. Mom worked from ’39 to ’41 at J.S. Williams Co. Modesto, CA, a men’s clothing store as a bookkeeper and stenographer; ’41 to ’44 at U.S. Army Depot, Port of Stockton, as stenographer, creating bills of lading, and checking spotter’s records for railroad car stand-by-bills; ’56 to ’80 part time for Dr. Mooshy Sergis, M.D., Opthamologist, Stockton, CA, as a stenographer, insurance clerk (Medicare, MediCal), and bookkeeper (checkbook, pay roll). This job was especially helpful as everyone in the family got glasses on discount!
She was married 54 years to Maurice John Courtway (11/1/1915-12/26/1998). She raised four children: Jon (Carol Rogers), Carrie Maraschino (Albert 11/15/42-4/6/2017), Rene (1/30/48-6/17/73), and Paula Clarke (Brian). She considered herself and was, an excellent seamstress, housekeeper, laundress, landscaper, and chauffeur. She was a grandmother to Clifford Maraschino (Maggie), Colin (Raquel) and Alan (Patricia) Clarke, and Great Grandmother to Bennett and Logan Clarke.Mom enjoyed traveling with family to Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, Canada, England, Holland, and The Hague. The Alaska trip was memorable because Dad hated to travel and after his death, Mom took the family there using his life insurance benefits! She travelled with Clarence and Dine to Reno, Tahoe, San Diego, Houston, New Orleans, Mississippi, Branson, Missouri, Cooperstown, and Niagara Falls. She travelled solo to National Parks in the West, Washington D.C., and visited Paula and family in New Jersey. Locally, she attended arm chair travel events with friends in Stockton and took sewing classes to optimize use of her Bernina sewing machine.
Mom moved from the family home (60 years) in Stockton to The Commons at Union Ranch on April 13, 2011, where her sister Dine Pedersen was a Charter resident. The Commons is on the same land that Pop (Nick Kooy), her father, had owned, farmed, and ranched. Mom returned ‘home’ and was supported there by the caring staff of the assisted living facility. On November 18, 2017, she transferred to The Renaissance, the memory care side of the facility, where her quality of life vastly improved. In April, 2018, she contracted a cold that did not respond to medication. Friday afternoon, April 20th, she asked to retire early. She slipped away peacefully in her sleep on April 25, 2018, after a lifetime valued for her skills and kindness to her family, employers, and friends. She has left a void in our lives.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18