Leonora Herren

Leonora Herren, age 96, passed away peacefully on March 2, 2015 in Fresno, CA with her daughter and son-in-law by her side. She was born in 1918 in Rossmore, Logan County, West Virginia. In 1928 at the age of 10 she travelled by train to California with her 13-year-old sister to join their mother and step-father in Merced, where she attended local schools, graduated from Merced High School and in later years, enjoyed attending classes at Merced College. In 1937, she married Donald Herren and had two daughters. Over the years, Leonora worked at the original Pine Cone, Woolworths, Peterson Stationary, The Sterling and finally retired in 1975 from the Merced County Recorder’s Office. She has been a member of the Central Presbyterian Church since the early ‘30’s, and a member of The Clipper Club, Merced Women’s Club, American Legion Auxiliary, Eastern Star, Roaming Elks, Beta Sigma Phi and Atwater-Merced AARP. In their retirement years, Leonora and her husband enjoyed travelling throughout the US and Europe. Leonora also enjoyed playing bridge, drawing, watercolors and crocheting. Having lived in Merced for 81 years, in 2009 she moved to Fresno to be near her daughter and son-in-law, eventually moving in with them in 2012. Leonora was preceded in death by her parents and step-parents, her loving husband of 58 years, Donald Herren, sister Jeannette Hildreth and son-in-laws, Paul Hodges and Donald Divine. She leaves to cherish her memory, her daughter, Linda Hodges Divine of Modesto, and daughter and son-in-law Sharon and Doug Craven of Fresno; beloved nieces JoAnn (Pirus) Abraham and family of Livingston and Donna Amaral and family of Tracy; grandchildren Scott (Sherry) Hodges, Traci (Jerry) Hodges Massengill and Aaron Hodges of Modesto and Michael Hodges of Turlock; five great-grandchildren; and, granddog, Hannah. The family would like to thank everyone at Saint Agnes Hospice for their kind and caring dedication. Family graveside services will be held. A celebration of her life is scheduled for March 9, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. at Central Presbyterian Church, Merced. Memorial contributions may be made to Saint Agnes Hospice, 6729 N. Willow Ave., Suite 103, Fresno, CA 93710 or to Central Presbyterian Church, 1920 Canal Street, Merced, CA 95340.