Eldean Rose Giudici

Eldean Rose Hazleton was born at 1:40 p.m. on March 26, 1931 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Bellingham, Washington. Her father, Dean, was the sole proprietor of his own sign painting business, and her mother Vivian would later have many jobs and eventually run her own dress shop. Their marriage was short-lived, as they divorced when Eldean was four. She was undeniably the best thing that the short marriage of Dean and Vivian Hazleton produced. The divorce would be the catalyst for a childhood spent moving down and up the West Coast, and being co-parented by loving members of her extended family.

During her elementary school years, Eldean enjoyed living in Pasadena with her grandparents, Lillian and Arthur Frohbach. When she moved north to San Rafael, she became very close to her cousins Bob and Don Weber who considered her to be more of a sister than a cousin. During high school, she was welcomed into the Tibbott household where she lived for a few years and became lifelong friends with Sandy Tibbott.

Eldean met her future husband, Richard Giudici, as she was nearing high school graduation in 1949. Richard’s parents, Charles and Josephine, loved Eldean, and she loved them and her future in-laws Charles Jr. and Evelyn. Rich and Eldean were married in 1951 and went on a great honeymoon, staying in Carmel, Yosemite, and Las Vegas, and picking up their first pet, a little tan Cocker Spaniel they named Carmichael, or Mikey.

Rich and Eldean shocked his parents when Rich accepted a teaching job at Washington High School in Fremont and off they went, leaving San Rafael. They had a wonderful life in Fremont. The family grew as son, Steven, and then daughter, Joanne, were adopted. Eldean was a proud parent and homemaker who supported her children in all their endeavors, and did her best to find ways to cook the fish and game that Rich brought home from his hunting and fishing trips.

Eldean had many fond memories of family holiday celebrations at Camp Taylor and China Camp, relaxing at the Tahoe and Cobb Mountain cabins, and summer vacation trips with family and close neighbors, the Brains and the Fells. Post-retirement adventures included trips with the “San Rafael Gang” to the Calgary Stampede, Route 66 to Nashville, and cruises to Alaska, the Caribbean and the Mexican Riviera.

Eldean’s career included early employment at the phone company, her mother’s dress shop and the Bank of San Rafael. She spent 22 years as a dedicated homemaker and then began a new chapter as co-owner of the popular Pine Knot gift shop in Castro Valley with neighbor and close friend Shirley Brain.

In December 2016, Eldean moved to O’Connor Woods Senior Living in Stockton to live closer to her family, make some new friends, and let other folks do the cooking and housekeeping. Once settled into her new place, Eldean developed many new routines. She looked forward to joining her friends for a long leisurely lunch, with dessert of course, in the dining room. She and her friend Dorothy frequently went out shopping and to lunch together. Sometimes she would join groups from O’Connor for special events.

Although the dining room food was pretty good, there were two items that didn’t show up on the menu very often…Eggs Benedict and fish and chips! Steve and Eldean had standing dates to go out for breakfast (Eggs Benedict) every Tuesday, and for lunch (fish and chips!) at Bob’s at the Marina on Fridays.

Eldean is survived by her daughter, Joanne Giudici Conklin; her son, Steve Giudici (Sandy); her sister, Deanne Hazleton; her cousin, Don Weber (Cathy); her grandchildren, Aiya Conklin, Ryan Kelly (Dani), and Erin Doolittle (Scott); her nieces, Elisa Rios, Catherine Rios (Dave), Christine Plummer and Jenny Weber; her nephews, Mark Giudici (Eileen), Bruce Giudici (Debbie), Craig Giudici (Cordena), Ted Weber (Lisa) and Mike Weber (Melba). She is also survived by many grandnieces and grandnephews.

Eldean was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 50 years, Richard Giudici (2001); her parents, Dean (1973) and Vivian (1988) Hazleton; her in-laws, Charles (2010) and Evelyn (1997) Giudici; and her cousin, Bob Weber (2021).

Eldean’s family sends their heartfelt thanks to the wonderful Staff of O’Connor Woods who treated Mom as family for the past six years, giving her extra support during the Covid quarantine period and warm and compassionate care during her later years in assisted living and memory care. Mom loved all of you.

Eldean’s family also extends special thanks to the Staff of Hospice of San Joaquin for doing their best to provide her with comfort through her final transition.

The family plans to have a Celebration of Life event for Eldean in the Spring.

In lieu of flowers, please consider an in memoriam donation to either O’Connor Woods or the Hospice of San Joaquin.