Fern Ann Passno

Beloved mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Fern Passno, went to be with the Lord peaceably on December 19, 2016, shortly after celebrating her 101st birthday. She leaves behind her two sons, Phillip E. Passno, of Ventura, California, and Paul E. Passno of Colorado Springs, Colorado, as well as five grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.

Fern was born Fern Ann Allen on a farm in Williamson, Iowa, on December 14, 1915. She rode several miles to and from a one room school house on her pony, unless it was snowing, in which case the pony got to stay home in the warm barn while she and her brothers trudged through the snow on foot! Her household duties included keeping the fire lit in the log stove all night, which meant she learned how to sleep lightly. And these were the days before indoor plumbing had yet to be available in her little farming community!

In 1931, at the age of 16, Fern was honored to be named to the Iowa All State Women's Basketball team. After high school, Fern became a licensed cosmetologist, and for the rest of her life, she was very particular about her hair style! At the beginning of World War ll, she married Willard Buell Passno, and while he was stationed in Europe, she moved to Burbank, California, with his parents in 1939. They arrived with their pockets empty, save for a Abraham Lincoln Centennial Coin, which they used to buy a meal, with the stipulation that they could buy the coin back when they landed on their feet!

In 1941, Fern obtained a "Rosie the Riveter'' position at Lockheed, working on wartime aircraft. Because of health reasons, she was transferred to the coffee shop at the Burbank Airport, where she could be found at the number one counter, and there she remained assigned for the next forty two years! She was a favorite with regular customers Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Lucille Ball, and later, Chuck Yeager. One favor ite story of hers was waiting on Bob Hope, who always ordered a donut and a cup of coffee for 15 cents, but would then leave her a five dollar tip! She also remembers Lucille Ball asking her one day what the soup was, and when Fern said she didn't know, Ms. Ball stood up, walked to the kitchen, put her finger in the soup pot, tasted it, and then came out again and said she'd have a cup of what was in the pot! Fern also served several United States Presidents in the private dining room at the airport over the years.

Upon retiring from Burbank Airport in her late 60's, Fern grew bored and restless, so in the early 1980's, she obtained a job as a waitress at the Saticoy Country Club. We tend to think that she didn't tell anyone her age, because she worked there for the next 27 years, and only retired at the age of 95 when her osteoporosis became problematic! She was known for her very big, winsome smile!

Fern's great joy in life was her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren. She also loved her dogs, specifically her last five dogs, which were Hungarian Vizslas. Her first Vizsla, Duke, was bred by the famous Chandler Family in Los Angeles, and was among the first Vizslas introduced to the state of California in the late 1960's.

For being an Iowa farm girl, Fern accomplished so much in her life. She was able to travel to Europe with her beloved granddaughter, Lisa Passno, and she frequently talked about memories of the trip. She also traveled across the United States with her husband, both by train and motor home.

She purchased a house on the lanes in Ventura early on, as it had always been her wish to live on the beach. Even when she had difficulty walking in her later years, she always tried to walk to the beach at least once a day to look at the ocean. A highlight was her 1OOth birthday, which was attended by 75 guests, from all across the United States.

Fern attended two churches in Ventura: Bible Fellowship Church for many years, and then for the last ten years of her life, the Church of the Nazarene. Many thanks to Pastor Daniel Hull for the many ways in which he ministered to her. Also thanks to her loving caretakers at Home Sweet Home and Buena Vista Hospice, as they tenderly cared for her in the last months of her life. Dr. Ramsey Ulrich at the West Ventura Clinic is to be thanked for his diligent attention to her health needs for many years.

Fern's husband, Willard Buell Passno, preceded her in death. She leaves behind her son Phillip and his wife Kay Passno; their three children and spouses: Brandon and Sarah Passno, Lisa Passno and Michael Pitts; and Devon and Amber Passno. Another son, Paul Passno and his wife Diane, and their two daughters and spouses : Nicole and Joseph Sanchez , and Danielle Passno and Kate Merker. In addition, Fern leaves behind ten great grandchildren: Kai Castillo, Haven Kenoss, Ian and Adler Passno, Nathan, Dylan, and Sean Passno, David and Lucy Sanchez, and Julius and Hazel Merker/Passno. Extended family members include her niece and her husband, Louise and John Boehm, and her nephew, Edward Allen.

Arrangements under the direction of Charles Carroll Funeral Home, Ventura, CA.