Orceal Amelia Pendleton

Orceal was born on October 29th, 1925 in Los Angeles, California. She spent her childhood years between her family’s farm in Puente, California and Long Beach/Los Angeles with her mother Nettie, Father Harley, and brothers Edmund and Hal. She had many fond memories of farm life, fruit trees, feeding rabbits and farm chores. Her memories of Long Beach were of the ocean, concession stands, cherry cokes at the Rexall drugstore, and taking rides at Rainbow Pier – built in the 1930’s - which she described as the most impressive pier along the coast.

After high school, when her friends were going to visit their parents in Spokane Washington, they asked Orceal to join them ~ this would become a significant decision in her life. Orceal described her friends and their parents as wonderful people. One of her friends, Chris Arvis, parents asked her to stay with them indefinitely. She happily accepted.

She found a job at the Sweet Maid Ice Cream Parlor where she would meet her husband ~ Owen W. Pendleton. Owen served in the army air corps during WWII. When they met, he was then stationed at Fort George Wright in Spokane, Washington. After many ice cream sundaes ~ he asked her out. They dated for nine months and were married in beautiful Couer d’Alene, Idaho. The newlyweds were together only 3 months before Owen received the call to go overseas ~ to England.

Her husband’s parents, Herbert and Vera Pendleton, welcomed her into their home in Fayville, Massachusetts while her husband was overseas. Alone, she took her first cross country trip, by train, to Fayville and was greeted by her new in-laws at Union Station in Worcester. Her first impression was ~ it was “grand.” (Union Station is now part of the National Register of Historic Places). Her new sisters-in-law and brothers-in law lived in nearby Southborough. After his return, Ceal and Owen enjoyed poker nights with Ella and Jim Malcomb, & Phyllis and Harry Gould.

In an era with old fashioned values, Orceal embraced being a mother ~ it defined her. She had four children, Mark, Darlene, Robin and Ward, where they lived in Northborough, MA for years.

To be near her firstborn son Mark’s growing family, she and Owen moved to Texas. Their years were filled with memories of watching her grandchildren ~Marc and Carolyn grow up. She adored her great grandchildren, Carrie and Blake’s triplets, Abigail, Katelyn and Alisha. She was honored when her daughter-in-law Toy’s granddaughter was given her namesake, Amelia.

She enjoyed trips visiting her daughter Darlene at her house in Maine with all her creatures great and small. Also hikes with Darlene and Phil (Lapeza) on Maine countryside trails.

She loved her youngest son Ward. They shared a special bond, sense of humor and joy of life. She cherished many holidays and birthdays at their family’s home with her nieces Jessica and Paige.

Her final years were spent in Sudbury, Massachusetts near her daughter Robin and son-in-law Mark Hollyer. She was near her beloved Wayside Inn where she and Owen celebrated many anniversaries. She enjoyed car rides to the countryside of Concord, the Minuteman Park and visits to Chatham, Cape Cod.

Some favorite Travels of her life:

-A trip to visit her brother Hal Page and sister-in-law Sharon in southern California,

-Visiting Robin and Mark when they lived in northern California to see the towering redwood trees at Muir Woods National Monument, Yosemite Park’s El Capitan and Napa Valley,

- A lunch at the historic Driscoll Hotel in Austin, Texas filled with western art that she loved.

-she delighted in going to the Boston MFA with her niece Debi Carbacio and husband Dave, who now live in Hawaii,

Orceal was a sports fan. She was passionate about her beloved Redsox and New England Patriots on which she made friendly bets with her grandson Marc, always loyal to the Boston teams ~ they did not disappoint. She forgave him his considerable losses. She became an excellent bridge player, she loved her pets, and a good sense of humor, Pavorotti and lobster.

Her faith was a guiding principle throughout her life. And her “church family” was very important to her ~ volunteerism was important to her. At St. Mark’s Church in Southborough, she tended the altar and the flowers and volunteered at the Bargain Box charity consignment store. She also volunteered when living in the Woodlands in Houston, and Our Lady of Annunciation in Luling Texas, serving Sunday lunches.

She wanted to send her love to her many nieces and nephews from the east to west coast.