Joyce Gross of Alamo, CA passed away on March 9, 2010 at the age of 79 after a 3-year battle with cancer fought with strength, dignity and grace. She is survived by her husband Max Gross, son Coleman and his wife Dana, twin grandchildren Maya and Aviva, and her brother Norman Greenstone of Arcadia, CA.
Joyce was born in Winnipeg, Canada and later moved to Vancouver where she married Max, with whom she spent 53 happy years. Opportunity took the young family to Seattle and Los Angeles briefly before they finally settled in Oakland, where they had a successful family business for more than 40 years. In the 1970s they moved to Alamo witnessing many changes in that community over the years.
Joyce had a large community of friends and family. She will be sorely missed by her best friend of 32 years, Lynn Glenn of Danville, Sam and Diane Gross, Rosalyn Gross, Marcy Unger, Randi Shepard and Leila Pravorne and their families. Joyce was an avid reader and she enjoyed sharing her love of books with her fellow bibliophiles.
Joyce was an active participant in many organizations. She worked with many Jewish organizations including the JCC, Congregation B’nai Shalom of Walnut Creek, the Contra Costa Jewish Film Festival, Contra Costa Jewish Day School and others. She was a naturalized U.S. citizen and participated actively in the political process and was a poll worker at both local and national elections. Over the last several years she volunteered weekly at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek.
A funeral service at Gan Shalom Cemetery in Briones, CA on March 11 was attended by family and many friends to say good-bye to an extraordinary woman who touched many lives. Those wishing to make donations are requested to consider Contra Costa Jewish Day School in Lafayette.
Sinai Memorial Chapel
Gertrude (Geede) Jonas Roberts
Our beloved Mom, Aunt, Grandma, Great-Grandma and friend, passed away peacefully on February 25, 2010 at the age of 91.
Born October 4, 1918 in San Francisco to Theresa (Tessie) Netter Jonas and Milton Jonas. Geede was a proud 2nd generation San Franciscan who grew up in a loving home with her sister Dorothy z”l. She attended local San Francisco schools and was a graduate of Lowell High School. She was married to her husband Alex “Acky” Ackland Roberts for 61 years. She met her beloved husband Acky in 1938 and they were married on July 2nd 1939 in San Francisco, CA and shared a blessed marriage for 61 years.
They soon moved to Acky’s hometown, Denver, CO for a few years. Their family soon grew to 4 with the birth of their two children, Kathy Roberts Williams and Douglas Roberts z”l. Geede and Acky moved back to San Francisco in 1951 and settled in their home in Hillsborough six months later. Geede lived in her home for 50 years before she moved to the Stratford in San Mateo.
She was not only an active family member, but she stayed involved in her community. As a young woman she worked for the USO and helped her husband Acky at his company, Roberts and Company when the children were in school. She was a member of Lake Merced Golf & Country Club where she loved golfing with Acky and her friends and getting a “hole in one”.
She was always trying new adventures and developing new hobbies. She enjoyed boating, knitting, being a Brownie and Cub Scout leader. At 81 she learned to use a computer and at 88 she took up jewelry making. Geede was known for her true love of family and friends; always there with hand made gifts and cards to brighten people’s days. She had a brilliant smile and a knack for giving great advice. She spent everyday of her life as an always-present parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, and friend.
Geede is survived by her daughter and “son” Kathy and Don Williams, her grandchildren Tracy and Aaron Stettner, Cory Roberts, Mike Williams and Mark Roberts and Great Grandchildren “her babies” Alex and Jordan Stettner. The world was blessed by her presence.
Funeral Services were held on February 28th and she was laid to rest at Home of Peace Cemetery in Colma. Donations can be made in her memory to Gertrude and Al. A. Roberts Endowment at Jewish Family and Children Services, San Francisco, CA.