Carole Anne Onorato, a third generation San Franciscan and a Placer County mainstay who worked tirelessly in both activist and official capacities for decades, died June 10 due to complications from heart surgery earlier this year. She was 75 years old.

The Lake County Board of Supervisors honored Mrs. Onorato with a moment of silence at the board's June 12 meeting.

Her son, Brad Onorato, is known to many in Lake County for his service as district representative for Congressman Mike Thompson. Brad Onorato told the Sacramento Bee that of all his mother's many accomplishments, her proudest achievements were as a wife, mother and grandmother.

The Sacramento Bee reported that Mrs. Onorato was in the midst of her eighth term on a Placer County Board of Education at the time of her death.

She was a homemaker who also had served on the California Transportation Commission, the Water Resources Control Board, the Placer County Library Commission, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and helped build the Tahoe City public library, according to the Sacramento Bee.

She was born Carole Anne Newsom in San Francisco in 1932 to parents Christine and William Newsom, and was the oldest of the couple's six children, the Sacramento Bee reported.

In 1952 she married Fred Onorato; the couple had just celebrated their 55^th wedding anniversary three days before her death, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Together, the Onoratos raised five children.

Mrs. Onorato was preceded in death in 2004 by son, Brian.

She is survived by her husband, Fred, of Auburn; sons, Brad Onorato of Napa, Dave Onorato of Davis and Peter Onorato of Minden, Nev.; daughter, Christine McKevitt of San Mateo; and five grandchildren, according to press reports.

Donations in Mrs. Onorato's memory may be made to the Placer County Library, 350 Nevada St., Auburn, CA 95603.

{mos_sb_discuss:2}

Renee Shields. Courtesy photo.

Born: March 11. 1944 Died: May 12, 2007

Renee Shields, resident and teacher in Upper Lake, CA, died on May 12, 2007 from cancer. She was 63 years old.

Renee was born Lorraine Gail Shields, in Merced, California on March 11, 1944. She entered religious life as a Sister of the Holy Family in 1963, taking the name Sister Mary Renee, and remained in religious life for 30 years. She left the convent and entered into a committed partnership with Denise Rushing in 1993 and helped raise two children: Brian Rushing, now 24, and Teresa Rushing, now 22.

Renee taught Special Education at Upper Lake High School and was a licensed family counselor. She held two Masters Degrees: One in counseling from California State University-Fresno and one in religious education from University of San Francisco. She was a credentialed teacher, who worked in Public Schools since 1997 and taught religious education for 30 years, while a Sister of the Holy Family. She also co-founded Rockhaven Ecozoic Center, a non-profit eco-spiritual retreat center and holistic community in House Springs Missouri.

Renee is survived by her sister Cynthia Shields of Fresno, California, her brothers, James Arthur Shields III of Parker, Colorado and Harold Shields of Clovis, California as well as nieces and nephews in California, Colorado and Texas. She leaves behind immediate family including domestic partner of 14 years, Denise Rushing and her two adult children: Brian Rushing of Portland, Oregon and Teresa Rushing of Upper Lake, CA.

Renee took great joy in flower arranging, weaving, caring for the pets and livestock at the family’s farm and creative tasks, including baking cookies and cakes for the students and staff at Upper Lake High School. Throughout life, she was known for her kindness and humor, her generosity, and her love of children. She is remembered with deep love and gratitude by all she encountered.

Private services will be held at a future date. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be sent to one of the following organizations:

Sisters of the Holy Family,

P. O. Box 3248,

Mission San Jose, CA 94539-0324

Hospice Services of Lake County,

1717 South Main Street

Lakeport, CA 95453

Rockhaven Ecozoic Center

7621 Rivermont Trail

House Springs, MO 63051

Visit www.bloggingforsanity.net/2007/05/renee-is-at-peace.html for a video clip of Renee and to send best wishes to her family.

{mos_sb_discuss:2}

Ed Thorsen aboard his motorcycle. Photo courtesy of Erik Thorsen.

Ed spent most of his adult life on the San Francisco Peninsula and in Lake County. He was predeceased by his wife Elizabeth (Betty Doherty) Thorsen in 1987 and his sister Borghild Petersen.

Ed is survived by his two children, Richard (Mary) Thorsen and Diane (Ric Davis) Thorsen, his four grandchildren, Erik (Rebecca) Thorsen, Jennifer (Jon) Jackson, Sandy (Don) Holle, and Theresa Halicki, and his four great-grandchildren Ryan, Emily, Sarah, and Claire Jackson, and his two nieces, Julie (Petersen) Davis and Kristin (Petersen) Hartman.

He was an Army Veteran of World War II, a Mason (Hiram award recipient & past Master), and a life member of the Kelseyville Lions Club.

Ed was the owner of Thorsen Construction Co. He was also President of The San Francisco Peninsula Building Association, and on the Board of Directors of The National Assoc. of Homebuilders of US.

Bonnie Perkins began her four-day journey to the next world on Thursday, May 24, 2007. She passed away quickly and without pain from a wind-within, and will be missed by all. She has undoubtedly looked back upon those remaining behind, notably her husband, William Hardy; beloved children, Sunday Costell, Richard Perkins and Diamond Perkins; and grandchildren, Ashlay Perkins, Thorsten Costell and Alexander Perkins.

During her life Bonnie experienced the lands and peoples of Hawaii, Washington, New Mexico, Oregon and California. She was truly a jack-of-all-trades, having worked as a welder, truck driver, bookkeeper, banker, teacher, journalist and editor, and radio producer. Bonnie loved to write, especially in the science fiction genre. She was perhaps best known locally as the Lake County Law Librarian, and for her pioneering work with Lake County Community Radio – particularly her original and well-respected show, “Censored History.”

She will be remembered as warm and compassionate, yet uncompromising in her belief that society and government should be held accountable for its inequities and untruths. She was a tireless advocate for the disenfranchised and powerless citizens of the world – and for indigenous peoples everywhere.

All of us who were privileged to know her are comforted in the assurance that wherever her present journey ends, her smile and genuine commitment to truth, honor, and integrity will serve her well. We pray she will find an abundance of laughter and lasting contentment.

A service celebrating Bonnie’s life and ideas is being planned for the middle of July. Specifics as to time and place, and where donations may be sent, will be separately announced.

{mos_sb_discuss:2}

Karlie Breeden. Courtesy photo.

COBB – Karlie Marie "Sis" Breeden, the daughter of David and Renada Powers Breeden of Cobb, became one of God's angels on Thursday, March 1, 2007, at the George Mark House for Children in San Leandro. She was laid to rest on Tuesday, March 3, in Sebastopol. She was 4 years old.

Karlie died of an inoperable brain tumor, diagnosed eight months ago.

She was born on Jan. 16, 2003, in Santa Rosa.

She loved makeup, nail polish, chewing gum, pink and purple aquariums, the ocean, camping and Disneyland. She also loved music, walking her dogs, her four-wheeler, horses and Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

She also loved and was loved by her mommy and daddy, and younger brother, Brody, who in her short lifespan knew her as a teacher, sister, daughter and friend. Most of all, her family and others as well knew her as a "miracle."

In addition to her parents and brother, Karlie is survived by her grandma Helen Cervi; grandpas Keith Russell and Ron Powers; and numerous cousins, aunts and uncles.

A private celebration of her life will be held at a later date.

The family requests that donations be made in Karlie's name to the George Mark Children's House, 2121 George Mark Lane, San Leandro, CA 94578, or in the name of Karlie Marie Breeden at Sonoma National Bank, 201 Main St., Sebastopol, CA, 95472, or any Sonoma National Bank.

For additional information, phone Pleasant Hills Memorial Park and Mortuary, (707) 823-5042.

{mos_sb_discuss:2}