Services include the saying of the rosary on Thursday, April 25, at 7:00 P.M., at the Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson funeral home, 870 San Benito Street, Hollister. Visitation will be held Thursday from 2:00 P.M., until 8:30 P.M., at the funeral home. Mass of Christian Burial will commence Friday at 10:00 A.M., at Sacred Heart Church, corner of 5th and College Streets, Hollister, CA. Donations may be made to San Benito Historical Society for Park Development or donor’s favorite charity. Visit: www.grunnagle.com for condolences.
Lydia C. Dassel was a native of San Benito County, a graduate of San Benito Junior College and Heald’s Business College, San Jose. She was employed at San Benito Guarantee Company and at the office of the county Superintendent of Schools during the war years.
She married her late husband, Ray L. Dassel in 1942 and became actively involved with Dassel’s Butane Service, which he had established in 1939, serving as Secretary-Treasurer of Dassel’s Petroleum, Inc. until a few years ago.
She was the mother of two children, Jim and Cindy, and was involved with their activities serving as a leader for Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts. She was actively involved in the parents clubs of Sacred Heart School of Hollister and Palma High and Notre Dame in Salinas.
Lydia enthusiastically supported her family while they showed horses in working cowhorse classes throughout the west coast for many years and was the proud owner of several champion horses. She was a member of the California Reined Cowhorse Association and was an annual sponsor of the San Benito Saddle Horse Show. She supported the San Benito County Historical Society and recently witnessed transfer of the 92 year-old redwood tank house which she donated from her parents’ San Felipe dairy farm to the San Benito Historical Park in Tres Pinos.
Upon retirement, Lydia and Ray enjoyed summers in the mountains at Mi-Wuk Village. They traveled the world, their favorite place being Switzerland where they visited many times with her family in the Ticino area.
She was an active member of the Monterey County Swiss-American Club. She was a lifelong member of Sacred Heart Parish and St Benedict’s Catholic Church. Lydia was the ultimate gardener, knowing the names and characteristics of every plant in her garden. She especially loved roses, tending to them every day during the blooming season. She was the consummate bridge player, an avid reader and seamstress extraordinaire. She enjoyed knitting and needlepoint, creating many beautiful pieces, which decorated her home
Lydia was married to Ray L. Dassel for 55 years until his death in 1997. Her children, James P. Dassel and daughter-in-law, Kathy of San Juan Bautista; Cynthia and son-in-law Graham Mackie of Hollister, survive her. Lydia was also the proud grandmother of five grandchildren, Todd Mackie (April) of Hollister; Jennifer Landa (John) of Salinas; Melissa Weis (Scott) of Ojai; Drew Mackie of Los Angeles and James Dassel of San Juan Bautista. Several nieces, nephews and cousins also survive her.
