Obituaries

Jessie Miceli

It is with great sadness that the family and friends will say a final goodbye to Jessie Miceli, who died at the La Cañada Flintridge home of her daughter and son-in-law, Nina and Larry Ratliff, on Tuesday, Aug. 26.

A Rosary is being said for Jessie on Thursday, Aug. 28 at Cabot & Sons Funeral Home in Pasadena at 7 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at St. Bede the Venerable Church in La Cañada Flintridge at 10 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 29.

Jessie, 88, was a woman who lived her life to the fullest. She had such a great heart and capacity to love. She was a well-known woman in the community, working for many years first at Berolina Bakery and then at Wesley’s Market.

She was born on Jan. 5, 1920 in New York City, daughter of Angelina and Giovanni Criscuolo who immigrated to the United States from Napoli, Italy. In 1941 she wed Stephen Miceli in New York City. After her husband honorably served in the Army during World War II, they first lived in New York City and then moved to Glendale where they opened their very successful Miceli’s Italian Restaurant.

Jesse is survived by her only child, Nina Ratliff and her husband Larry Ratliff; sister Louise Branuelas of La Cañada Flintridge; grandson Stephen Ratliff of South Pasadena; granddaughter Christina Clayson and her husband Phil of Anaheim Hills; and great grandchildren Ryan and Jessica Clayson.

She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and a cadre of friends whose lives were enhanced by knowing this woman who always had a smile on her face and a kind word to say.

Morris F. Sullivan

Morris F. Sullivan, a former long-time La Cañada Flintridge resident born Dec. 8, 1916, passed away on Aug. 24 at his home in Toluca Lake after a lengthy illness. The family patriarch of 10 children was 91 years old.

Morris and his wife, Rose Sullivan, who preceded him in death in 1971, moved to their Flintridge home on Meadow Grove Circle in June 1954. The Sullivan family was active in the St. Bede’s Catholic Parish for many years while the children attended school there.

Those familiar with the Sullivan household will remember an active, friendly place to congregate where there was always an open invitation to a poolside, backyard barbecue.

With 10 kids going every which way, followed by an ever-growing menagerie of pets — Morris loved all animals including monkeys, dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens, son Tim’s homing pigeons, ducks, mice, rats and even snakes — much to Rose’s chagrin, there never seemed to be a dull moment at the Sullivan home.

Morris, a widower for 37 years, was also preceded in death by his oldest daughter Maureen who died in 1998 and his beloved golden retriever dog, Happy. He is survived by his remaining nine children, son Dave and wife, Diane from La Cañada; daughter Kathleen from Pasadena; son Patrick, Colorado and Hawaii; son Michael and his wife Gloria, Tujunga; son Kelly and his wife Lynda, Murrietta; the twins including daughter Mary and her husband, Gale, the Florida Keys and son Tim and his partner Ed Irish, Boise, Idaho; daughter Theresa Anne and her husband Sam, Santa Barbara; and son Daniel Shane, also from Santa Barbara. Morris will be missed also by his beloved grandchildren including Chris and Tony from La Cañada, Keith, Isra, Dali, Sierra, Lee, Sammy and Wyatt, as well as several great grandchildren.

A memorial service celebrating Morris’s life will be held at St. Charles Catholic Church, 10850 Moorpark Street , North Hollywood at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 4.

Richard L. Thomas

Richard L. Thomas, a resident of La Crescenta and Glendale for 82 years, passed away on Aug. 16 at the age of 84.

Dick was born on Oct. 17, 1923 in Mangum, Okla., but moved west in 1925 and never left the Glendale/La Crescenta area. He attended Glendale area schools, including Clark Jr. High School and Hoover High, class of 1942. He experienced the 1933 earthquake, as well as the great flood that devastated the area.

He proudly served his country as an Army Air Corp pilot in World War II, achieving the rank of 2nd lieutenant.

After the war, Dick married his high school sweetheart, Betty Jean Beckers, on Sept. 14, 1946. They were married 44 years until her passing in October 1991.

Dick spent his entire career as a lathing and plastering contractor. He took great pride in the quality of his work, and was highly respected in his field.

During the second half of the 20th century, he helped construct hundreds of houses and buildings in the Crescenta Valley/Glendale area with a level of building standards that doesn’t exist anymore.

Dick was the ultimate Little League coach, having spent 15 years coaching every level of youth baseball in the La Crescenta area. He also was an avid fisherman and golfer, as well as being an outstanding card player, with bridge and cribbage his specialties.

In his later years Dick was a constant attendee at the Sparr Heights Senior Center. He forged many friendships there over the course of 17 years.

Richard leaves his two sons and their wives: David and Cathy, and Larry and Kathy; two grandsons and wives: Brett and Erica, and Adam and Jennifer, and three great-grandchildren: Lauren, Auburn and Miles Thomas. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Betty, and a grandson, Jeffrey Thomas.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Solheim Lutheran Home, 2236 Merton Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90041, Attn: Norma Heaton.

Helen O. Thompson

Helen O. Thompson, 93 years young, died surrounded by her family on Aug. 23 at the house she and her husband built in La Crescenta in 1946. She died peacefully after a short but intense battle with cancer.

Her husband, H.O. Thompson, preceded her in death in 1977. She is survived by her daughters Melinda Thompson (husband Bill Scherkey) of La Cañada and Patty Reed (husband Dick) of Palm Desert, and their families.

Helen’s upbeat and positive approach to life inspired all those who were privileged to meet her. She and H.O. were active in Girl Scouts for 15 years during their girls’ youth. Helen was also involved in P.E.O., the La Crescenta Presbyterian Church (deacon and longtime member), Bosom Buddies (a breast cancer survivor group), Descanso Gardens (as docent and member), the Glendale Community Concerts Association (board member), and the Nifty Naughty Eighties Ladies.

She delivered meals to shut-ins for the local Salvation Army Meals on Wheels program for over a decade, giving up that voluntary duty only recently.

Helen’s long teaching career ranged from a one-room schoolhouse on the South Dakota prairie to a kindergarten classroom in the Glendale school district. She had a lifelong interest in music and theater and played piano for a men’s quartet when she was younger; more recently she played piano at a local convalescent home with other members from her church.

A memorial celebration of Helen’s life will be held on Saturday, Sept. 27, at 11 a.m. at the La Crescenta Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a charitable contribution be made in her name. Two of Helen’s favorite charities were the local Meals on Wheels run by the Glendale Salvation Army and the Mt. Wilson Vista Girl Scout Council’s Improvement Fund for the Montrose Program House.