Hide Article Text (OCR)
IN MEMORIAM, on this Mother's Day, to RACHEL ANN CECKA Rachel “Ann” Cecka was 76 when she peacefully assed away at home on March 19, 2009 in Arroyo Seema, CA. Born May 6, 1932 in Los Angeles, CA to James P. and Helen (Richardson) McHale, her family eventually moved to Pasadena, CA. Ann attended Brown School for Girls in Glendora and Pasadena City College before venturing to Mallorca, Spain at the age of 17, where she became fluent in Spanish and developed a lifelong love for travel and the Spanish culture. She returned to the US in 1951, graduated from Sawyer Business College, worked as an executive secretary for the Monterey Oil Co. in Los Angeles, and joined The LA Spinsters before meeting Andy Cecka on a blind date. Ann and Andy were married on July 25, 1953 in San Marino, CA, eventually settling in the Covina area to raise their family. Ann's keen interests in the arts, current events and politics were honed at her parents’ dinner table and practiced as her children grew. She worked as both an Election Day volunteer and on several Presidential campaigns, and was a familiar face volunteering at her children's schools. In 1972, she became a staple in the family's seasonal business in Montana, opening a gift shop and helping run a restaurant at the north entrance to Yellowstone Park. In 1976, Andy’s employment in engineering relocated the family to Thousand Oaks, CA. Children grown and Montana business sold, she pursued her interest in history and became a docent at the Brenbcoseh Inn Museum in Newbury Park, CA. In 1993, she trained as a docent at the FasGns Presidential Library in Simi Valley, CA, where she especially enjoyed leading tours for school-aged children. Having sent all three of their children to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Ann and Andy were familiar with the Central Coast. In 2000, they retired to Arroyo Grande, CA, where they quickly made friends in their new community. Once again, Ann pursued her love of history as a docent for the South County Historical Society. She and Andy vacationed throughout the US, Europe, and Canada. Ann will be remembered for her intelligence, quick wit, sense of fun, work ethic and kind-heartedness. She was an avid reader, opinionated, and had a git for bringing those she loved together to enjoy great food and laughter. ike sisters Margaret and Geraldine, the McHale Girls , she considered Irish humor to be the best medicine. Always fashionable and never late, she was passionate about partnership, motherhood, and friendships. A memorial service honoring her life was held on March 30, 2009 at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Arroyo Grande. She was greatly missed by her husband of 55 years, who passed away in 2013, and is still missed by her chore Stephanie, Walt and Monica, as well as surviving family and friends. Obituary notices are published daily in the Santa Barbara News-Press and also appear on our website: www.newspress.com Paid obituary articles are published daily in the Santa Barbara News-Press and on newspress.com., Text can be submitted by email to obits@newspress.com, faxed to (805) 966-1421, or brought in to our De La Guerra Plaza office. Please include: name, address and contact phone number. All obituaries must be prepaid. We accept all major credit cards by phone, or payment can be made at our office. The cost is approximately $6.00 per/line daily and $6.35 per line Sunday plus $25 per photo*. ** * All obituaries include a $40 Service fee. **Ask our representative about Spotlighting your obituary online for an additional $10. A line consists of approximately 75 characters, which include spaces punctuation without a photo and 40-55 characters with a photo. Photos can be submitted digitally (jpeg format/at least 200 dpi) or an original can be brought into our office for scanning. For further information, please call §64-5249. * Early Memorial Day deadlines: Friday, May 26 - Tuesday, May 30, deadline is 12 Noon, Thursday, May 25. The office will be closed Monday, May 29, 2017 The deadline for Tuesday-Friday’s edition is 12 noon the previous day. Saturday, Sunday and Monday’s edition deadline is at 3 p.m. on Thursday. Free Death Notices must be submitted by your mortuary. The News-Press can not accept Death Notices from individuals, please consult your mortuary. Please email Death Notices to news@newspress.com. cag .
Newspaper Details
Santa Barbara News Press
Santa Barbara, California, US
Sun, May 14, 2017
Page 9
Full Page
Clipped by
Peggy H.
USA 10 Jul 2026
Other Publications Near Santa Barbara, California
Daily Santa Barbara Press
Weekly Santa Barbara Press
Santa Barbara News Press
