Loretta E. Reece

Loretta attended St. Alphonsus School and graduated from Fresno Technical High School as Student Body Secretary in 1939. She went on to attend California State University, Fresno and Four C's College. She became Personnel Director at Montgomery Ward in Fresno, and it was there that she met Paul Reece, her loving husband of 35 years. He eventually went to work at Bank of America, and she retired to raise her two children, Jeanne and Michael. After her children were grown, Loretta worked as a Office Manager at her nephews chiropractic office, Dr. Stephen Albracht. Though she never missed a day, she was at least 15 minutes late, every day for 30 years.

Life for Loretta was centered around the family she loved so much. Holidays or get-togethers at the Hatfield or Albracht homes were her favorite times with family, extended family, and close friends. Italian to the core, good food and good wine were the staple of every family event, with dancing and singing, paving the way to a fun time for all. Loretta reveled in these special gatherings.

Loretta leaves behind a legacy for her family of love and devotion. She never minced words when she had an opinion, but her love was everlasting and unconditional. Her Catholic faith was unshakable.

Loretta was preceded in death by her parents, Mike and Martha Bernard; her brothers and sisters and in-laws including, Vincent Bernard, Jim and Dorothy James, Chuck Bernard, and Bea and Anthony Bernard; and her nephews, Vincent James and Gene Tolbert.

Loretta is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Jeanne and Ken Hatfield; her son, Michael Reece; her granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Kerri and Brian Murphy; her grandson Geoff Hatfield; her sister Evelyn Younghans; her nieces and nephews, Sharon and Stephen Albracht, Tami Boogaard, Judith Tolbert, Robert and Lee Bernard, Linda James, and Toni Bernard; and many other loving family members.

Visitation will be at Stephens and Bean Funeral Chapel on Thursday, August 30, 2012, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.

A Catholic Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Therese Catholic Church on Friday, August 31, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Belmont Memorial Park.

Remembrances may be made in honor of the profession of her children and the alma mater of her grandchildren to the Foundation for Clovis Schools, attn: Valerie Myers, 1450 Herndon Ave., Clovis, Ca., 93611; or to the donor's favorite charity.