Dolores Sepeda, long time resident of San Martin, died Friday, May 15, 2009 at her home after a lengthy illness. She is survived by her daughter, Judith Cigan (Dennis) of Gilroy, her grandchildren, Paul Cigan (Terri) of Springfield, VA, Claire Thome (Phil) and Ann Fitzsimmons (Mark) also residents of Gilroy. She is the great-grandmother of Claudia Cigan, Madeleine Cigan and Candace Cigan, all of Sprinfield, VA.
Born on July 10,1919 in San Francisco, Dolores ultimately settled in the town of Morgan Hill with her mother, Dorothy De Moro, after the death of her father, Albert De Moro, in 1934. She attended Live Oak High School and Hartnell College in Salinas. Following her marriage to John Sepeda in 1941, the couple purchased a prune orchard in San Martin where she continued making her home until her death.
Dolores has been a parishioner of St. Catherine’s Church in Morgan Hill and has been actively involved in church work throughout the past 68 years. Her thirteen years of work at the Wm. F. James Boys Ranch, as secretary, instilled in her a great love for young people. As a religious education teacher at her church, she found working with junior high school students a very rewarding experience. Moreover, during these years she participated in the Catholic Ladies’ Aid Society, the Italian Catholic Federation, the Women In Touch organization, and the Other’s Club, a group of local women working together to fund an annual high school scholarship for a graduating senior.
In 1979, her avid interest in California history culminated with the authoring and publishing of her book about the history of the Uvas Canyon, located in the western foothills of Morgan Hill. The Hills West of El Toro chronicled the lives of pioneers that settled in that area from the late 1800’s to the present.
One of her favorite teaching experiences was working at the Learning and Loving Center in Morgan Hill for several years. She enjoyed working with adults learning English as a second language and was amazed at how hard individuals would work under her tutelage.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 from 5:00-8:00 P.M. at Johnson Funeral Home, 17720 Monterey St., Morgan Hill. A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 1:30 P.M. at St. Catherine Catholic Church, 17400 Peak Ave., Morgan Hill. Interment to follow at Mt. Hope Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to: The Learning and Loving Center, 16890 Church St., Morgan Hill, CA, 95037.
