Aunt Becky gave me a  lasting￼ appreciation and love for the ocean￼:

I remember visiting Aunt Becky during the summer months as a child.  She took me to the beach and introduced me to the tide-pools.  We would marvel at the anemones, the urchins and ￼the creatures that would take up residency in those pools until high tide returned them back to the sea.￼￼   Let’s not forget the sand-crabs that would burrow deep into the beach with every lapping wave after we would scoop them from their shelter.   By the beach day’s end, we would both marvel at the beautiful colors that the setting sun ￼casted.   The pinkish hues became more rich ￼in the clouds as the sun set beyond the ocean’s horizon.￼￼  I recall asking her, “where does the sun go?”  With a smile and confidence in her tone she responded, “into the ocean”￼.   I tried real hard wrapping my mind around that concept.  (HA!)  Exhausted from the day, I remember falling asleep in the sofa pullout bed located in the living room only to wake up the next morning to her silhouetted by the blue morning sky sipping her coffee in the kitchen.  The mornings were always buzzing with the excitement of doing it all over again.  I always enjoyed being in her calm presence.  I am happy to have this vivid memory and I am so happy that she is now with Uncle Claudio, my Mom, and Aunt Erma.  

In San Diego, there were four young mothers, without their own mothers, aunts, grandmothers, sisters to help or advise.  Rebecca, Muriel, Jean and myself, Jo.  Among us we had probably almost a dozen toddlers, and aerospace husbands who were gone all the time.    What a lifesaver we were for each other.   Rebecca was Catholic, from New Mexico, a teacher by training.  Muriel was an earth-mother, philosopher, and professor-type.  Jean was from Canada, tall blonde, an Amazon type with 5 sons.   I was from Missouri, only claim to fame is that I'd lived in Germany 2 years while husband in the Army.   For babysitting, a lift to the pediatrician, grocery, fabric store, a stick of butter,  we all helped, not everybody had a car of their own.   We stayed in touch for years, had a couple of reunions, one at Rebecca's wonderful CA home, where we were treated like royalty.   Rebecca was the best-dressed, most beautiful, most gracious of us all.   Much as we loved being together, we all had to have supper on the table when our husbands came home.   One afternoon, one of us could not find our house keys (wasn't me, we were at my house).  Time was passing, no keys, the toddlers had been playing with keys, but of course, had no clue where they were.   In the nick of time (20 minutes before supper) they were found . . . in the bottom of a cheerios box.   Every auto in San Diego's floormat was full of sand and cheerios.  I wish every young mother could have had a fabulous support group like that.   So long, Rebecca, see you later.


I first met Rebecca Oliver and her wonderful 3 children back in the summer of 1972. Our families became very close and spent a lot of fun times together. I was immediately struck by Rebecca's loving and caring concern and attention for her 3 children, Laura, Larry and Lynn. Rebecca raised her 3 young children on her own after losing her husband. I have always had tremendous respect for Rebecca. She worked full time as a schoolteacher along with raising her 3 children into competent, loving and successful adults. I am very saddened that Rebecca has passed although know that the lessons of love, dedication and inspiration she taught and left behind for us will never be forgotten. I can’t wait to give Rebecca a BIG HUG when I see her in Heaven! God Bless the Oliver and Gutzel families!
With love - Richard Lockhart and family     


OBITUARY

Rebecca Molina Oliver

October 18, 1931 – January 19, 2020

Fairhaven Memorial Services

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services