Karla Castello

12/07/1942 - 06/30/2023

Resident of Sonora

Wanda Karla Castello was a truly spectacular lady: a gifted artist, wife, mother, friend,

and outdoors woman. She was born in 1942 to William Karl Grusonik and Wanda Clare

Nelson; Karla grew up in Palo Alto, graduating in 1960 from Cubberley High School.

She graduated from San Jose State in 1964 with a degree in Art and History and went

on to get her teaching credential in 1965. While attending San Jose State she would

meet her lifelong partner and husband Raymond Castello on a blind date in the university

cafeteria. When Ray met her, he said “she was the most beautiful woman I had

ever seen.” They were married in 1963 and stayed by each other’s side through thick

and thin for sixty years. Karla finished her student teaching but soon stayed home to

become a homemaker extraordinaire: always creating, hosting large family gatherings,

and sharing her many talents. She and Ray built their family and home with two children,

Joe and Julie. She raised her family with gusto, always including friends and

family, teaching them to love art, music, cooking, education, and the outdoors. She

painted, sewed, crocheted, played bridge and tennis, skied, and loved jogging in the

neighborhood with dear friends. In her later years, she loved traveling, especially on

Alaska cruises with her husband.

She volunteered with the Sunshine Auxiliary of Childrens Home Society before she

went on to teach at Yerba Buena High School as a math teacher for 19 years. She

poured her heart into her role, sympathizing with the challenges for students. She became

an accomplished math teacher, loving her students and seeking to improve their

experience of learning math. She developed a curriculum for pre-algebra and co-authored

a textbook on that subject.

In time she would have 8 beloved grandchildren whom she loved dearly. She traveled

to visit them wherever they were and delighted in their various activities. She and

Ray faithfully attended St. Christopher Parish throughout their lives: she knew Jesus as

her Lord, savior, and friend. There were a few things she held onto until the end: her

sweetheart Ray, her children and grandchildren, family and friends, and her art. She

passed away on June 30, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. She is survived by her

husband Raymond Castello, children Joe Castello (Nashell), Julie (Ann) Castello Personius

(Matthew), sister Joann Grusonik (Watkins), brother Bill Grusonik, sisters-in-law

Linda Orr ( Jack), Anne-Marie Foisy, and her grandchildren Julian Personius (Tressa),

Christian Personius (Nataley), Bennett Personius, Ruby Buenrostro (Elijah), Josephine

Personius, Nicole Castello, Nathaniel Personius, Brie Personius, Lyla Personius (her first

great-grandchild), and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank those who have cared for Karla these past years which

include family, friends, neighbors, caregivers, and Hospice of the Sierras.

Friends and Family are invited to attend a Mass on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at 11:00

AM at St. Christopher Church 2278 Booksin Ave, San Jose, CA 95125 with Committal

Service to follow at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery 490 Lincoln St., Santa Clara, CA

95050.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.LimaFamilyEricksonMemorial.com for the Castello family.