Albertine Marie Cahill and was born in Waltham Massachusetts in 1940 on February 23. At the time there were five members in her family which included her mother, Albertine Marie Levasseur, her father Paul Stankard and her older siblings Paul, Albert, and Marsha. Her two younger sisters were born 6 and 10 years later, Doreen and Colleen. Albertine lived all of her adolescent and teen years in Waltham Massachusetts which was an urban community. She attended Saint Mary’s school and was often honored for her grades and penmanship. Her mother, Albertine, was an entrepreneur hairdresser and her father ran the local smoke shop and sometimes played music at an Irish pub near by. It was through her fathers original and creative songs that she inherited her life long nickname, Deaton. Her father grew up in Waltham, so her family was well known in the community. Some of her happier moments were their summer vacations to the Cape, nights making music with her family in the basement or hanging out with her best friend Ellen.
After graduating from high school she worked at the local Woolworths and attended college to become a teacher, to which she later confessed she never wanted to be a teacher. During that time she was also dating Norbert Cahill long distance after he joined the Air Force and was stationed abroad.
They were married in 1960 and immediately moved to California following their wedding. Deaton missed her family, but she loved the California weather and made it her home! She also loved the fact that her life long friend, Ellen, married her brother-in-law Tom Cahill and they also moved to California. She was no longer alone and now had her best friend to brave the west with.
Deaton gave birth to Jeffrey Allen Cahill in 1961 and Julie Anne Cahill in 1962. Robert Matthew was born in 1964. The Cahill’s bought their first home in Corona California in the late 1960’s. To follow suit with the culture of the then “cow town” of Corona and Norco they even bought a cow! Deaton was busy with 3 little ones and had little time for anything else. In 1971 she gave birth to Colleen Marie, named after her youngest sister.
In 1975, Deaton and Bob divorced. Deaton dated a bit, but focused more on her career at Rohr Industries and night school. She received her Bachelor’s degree in 1983.
Once the older kids were grown, Deaton and Colleen moved to Massachusetts to be closer to her family. However, after one Boston winter Deaton knew California was the place she wanted to be so back they went. They then settled in Moreno Valley near her friend Julia.
Deaton had great friends such as Julia, Carol and Debbie to name a few. She played scrabble competitively and joined the company bike club. She didn’t date much, but sometimes talked about a man at work that was boisterous, opinionated and obnoxious. After months of declining his advances she agreed to go on a date with him. They became inseparable. She later described this man as the love of her life. Hal Lewis had captured her heart. They went on bike rides, coastal trips, enjoyed good friends and Hal’s good cooking! Hal opened up an adventurous and social side of Deaton and she in turn instilled a calmness in him. They had 4 beautiful years together before Hal succumbed to cancer. During that time Deaton was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and she retired early.
Over the next 20 plus years Deaton dedicated her life to visiting with her sisters, gardening, reading, decorating and enjoying her grandchildren.
Deaton was many things. She was an amazing poet and writer. She often included a clever poem in birthday cards and holiday gifts. She loved gardening, her backyard was always plush and her house plants flourished. She was a quiet person who loved to read and listen to music, but she also loved deep talks with friends followed by some silliness to lighten the mood. Humor was a must and when she was with her sisters there was always an abundance of laughter.
Deaton was strong yet gentle, wise yet open and her love was like a gentle undercurrent that always carried you back to safe shores.
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