Gretchen R. Slota

Gretchen Slota died in Anaheim, California on September 23, 2012. She was 92 years old. Gretchen was born Gretchen Roberta Sanbury on June 21, 1920, in her parents farmhouse in Busti Village, NY. She was the second child of John William Sanbury and Gertrude Jean Corey. She had an older sister, Frances. A younger brother, Wendell, preceded her in death. She attended school in a one-room schoolhouse. In 1929, when Gretchen was 9 years old, the family moved across the country to Buena Park.

Gretchen attended the old Grand Avenue School and Fullerton High School. When she finished high school, she worked part-time at the Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant as a waitress until she graduated from Fullerton Junior College in 1939. She earned her RN nursing degree at Knapp College of Nursing in Santa Barbara, graduating in 1942. She was always proud of being a nurse and considering nursing to be the noblest of professions.

In that summer of 1942, Gretchen met a young Marine Corps aircraft mechanic from Iowa named John Slota. While he served overseas she took classes about the Catholic faith and joined the parish at the old Mission Santa Barbara. After two years John returned and they married in the Mission on February 10, 1945. They would be married 55 years. John and Gretchen had 5 children: John William Slota of Gridley, CA, Richard Lee Slota of San Francisco, CA, James Michael Slota of Ellisville MO, Margaret Wetmore of Albany, OR, and Paul Edward Slota of Stafford, VA, 11 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, and dozens of nieces and nephews.

During the next 8 years the growing Slota Family lived in Santa Barbara, Santa Ana, and Anaheim, and farmed for 2 years in Iowa. They made a final return to Anaheim in 1953 and the California bungalow home on Elm Street where John and Gretchen would live for many years.

Gretchen worked as Health Committee chairman at her children's school, St. Boniface, in Anaheim. Later she went back to work as Director of Nurses at several convalescent hospitals in the Anaheim area, retiring in 1985.

Gretchen and John were both active in church where they were members of St Boniface and later St Anthony's parishes. They belonged to St Anthony Seniors and Anaheim Senior Citizens where Gretchen ran blood pressure clinics. Recently Gretchen joined St. Philips parish.

The TV series ROOTS and a curiosity about her Swedish ancestry prompted Gretchen to take up genealogy as an avocation. She joined the Orange County Genealogical Society and taught genealogy classes at the Anaheim Senior Center. She made many new friends through her classes, and discovered distant relatives when she learned to do online research.

Gretchen was also known for her sewing skills. She made darling Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls for family, friends, and to sell in the Senior Citizen gift shop.

John died in 2000 when he was 84 years old. In 2005, Gretchen moved to an apartment in Emerald Court. She was very happy there and made many new friends and renewed old acquaintances.

Gretchen was well educated for a woman of her day and she encouraged her children in all their educational pursuits. Her passion for learning led her to set up education savings accounts for many of her grandchildren.

Gretchen will be missed for her wisdom, guidance, and her love.