Deja Marie Gomes

Deja is survived by parents David and Deborah, older brother David Jr, his wife Vicky, and nephew and nieces Gabriel, Brooklyn and Mila. Many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends will miss her.

Deja received her BS degree at the New York Culinary Institute of America. Her career as chef, caterer and food and spirit management in 5-starred restaurants and intimate eateries spanned from Sacramento to New York to San Francisco to Las Vegas then settling in Seattle for the past 15 years. Although, she explored medical and legal careers, she enjoyed the pursuit of perfection in professionally prepared exquisite meals the most. The countless people she met in her career, travel, and daily life became lifelong friends. Nothing pleased her more than meals she prepared and shared with her Seattle friends and her family in Sacramento.

Her interests to master diverse cuisines ensued a worldwide travel goal before the age of 40. That passion included adventures like running with the bulls in Spain, diving with great white sharks in Australia, hot air ballooning over Turkey, jungle and island excursions in Southeast Asia, and racing on snowbound racetracks in Scandinavia. Her US travels included restaurant openings for fellow culinary alumni, skydiving the Florida Keys, snowmobiling Alaskan wilderness, and explorations to quaint coastal mountain villages of Mexico, Bahamas, Caribbean and Hawaiian Islands. On many US trips, her adored Persian cat Wheezy travelled along. Her only wish was that more could have shared the adventures along with her.

In her career and travels, she was amazingly fearless, authentic in life, compassionate to those in need, deeply loyal and truly loved her family and friends. We miss her dearly and she will live forever young in our hearts.

In regards to a service, details will follow for a Celebration of Life for Deja to be held after the coming holidays.