Carolyn Randol Cancilla

Lynn Cancilla passed away in Huntington Beach on February 1, 2016 after a long and challenging battle with dementia. A memorial service and celebration of life will be held on Saturday, February 13, at 10 a.m. at Pacific View Chapel, 3500 Pacific View Drive, Corona Del Mar, CA 92625, (949-644-2700).

Carolyn “Lynn” Cancilla was born Friday night, November 7th, 1925 to George and Eva Randol in Maxwell, Iowa. She joined big sister Virginia.

The family moved to the Northwest to be closer to relatives and friends.

As a young girl, Lynn played trombone in an all-girl band. The band traveled to gigs and performed at celebrations of all kinds. She continued playing the trombone through college performing in all women’s dance band. Playing trombone helped to fund her college education. Lynn attended Oregon State University where she was a member of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority. She earned an A.A. degree in medical technology. While at Oregon State she met Edward Cancilla, and they were married on December 19, 1946. They moved to Southern California then Pittsburg where she finished her training as a medical technician.

After moving back to CA, Lynn secured a job in a lab in Beverly Hills. The Doctors took care of several movie stars. The story Mom tells is she had announced to the lab that if Jack Benny needed a house call and she wasn’t assigned to him, she would quit. Mary, Jack Benny’s wife, wasn’t feeling well so Mom went to the Benny residence to draw her blood. Mary asked Mom to stay for a few minutes so she could get some sleep. Mom did get to see Jack Benny and it was the highlight of her work experience.

One of Lynn’s accomplishments was giving birth to three children in 1954. She often joked this was her “undoing” and the reason for subsequent memory lapse. She loved to be fully engaged in an active life. The early years were busy with swim lessons, dance lessons, sports, her daughters’ school and all the activities raising four daughters entailed. She bowled on a competitive bowling team and played bridge regularly. In the 70s, she and the twins volunteered with, what was then called, the League for Crippled Children, raising monies to help kids with medical needs.

In the1968, Lynn detected her own breast cancer, received treatment and lived the rest of her years as a breast cancer survivor.

When her kids got older, she worked as a bookkeeper for Ace Tank & Heater.

Lynn was an avid paddle tennis player. She practiced and played in tournaments at Westport Beach Club as well as surrounding clubs.

Ed and Lynn held season tickets to the Ram’s football games.

Lynn served as chairperson of the Cinderella Guild of Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) where she contributed numerous hours and ultimately served as president of the Cinderella Guild.

Bridge was one of her passions. For 20+ years, she played weekly with her long time bridge partner and friend, Jean Rimpau.

Travel was an important part of Lynn’s life. She traveled to Italy, France, Portugal, Ireland, Panama Canal, Austria, Hungary, Germany, Switzerland, Australia & New Zealand, Caribbean, China, London and Scotland.

Her loves included chocolate, antiques, jewelry of the unusual sort, lunches out, Christmas, music, burgers, shakes and fries, shopping, and relaxing at her condos in Lake Arrowhead and Newport Beach.

Lynn is survived by her four daughters Susan Cancilla (Colorado), Jane Terry and her husband Dan (Newport Beach), Jean Rustemeyer and husband Tom (Huntington Beach) and Joan Cancilla and partner, Jeanne Dore (Wellfleet, MA). She is also survived by 5 grandchildren: Ned, Chris, Byron, Mike and Kerrilyn and four great-grandchildren: Deklyn, William, Bryson and Juliet.

The family gratefully expresses special thanks to Jean Rustemeyer for the countless hours she willingly gave toward the care and comfort of our Mom, Lynn.

In addition, genuine thanks is extended to Sunrise Huntington Beach and their loving staff, especially Barbara, for going above and beyond in caring for our Mother.

Please consider making a contribution to the Alzheimer’s of Orange County (AOC), 2515 McCabe Way, Suite 200, Irvine CA 92614. Link for donating to Alzheimer's of Orange County is: www.alzoc.org

The family encourages you to share your thoughts and stories in the Pacific View Guestbook at www.pacificviewcalifornia.com