Penelope Ann Streifel

Penny was born on August 7, 1945, in Ann Arbor, MI, to the late Dale and Dorothy (Jasman) Ransom. Penny’s family moved west to Colorado, then to Montclair, CA, then settled in Pomona, CA, where she grew up and attended Pomona Catholic Girls High School. She married Gilbert Streifel on January 25, 1969.

Penny absolutely loved a good story. It could be a ghost story, romance, mystery, in a book or as a show. She would happily announce the killer in the first five minutes of watching a mystery, whether you wanted to know or not. What she loved even better was being the center of that story. Her favorite story to tell, that she shared many times over the years, was how she got her name in the local paper at the age of three for painting a neighborhood dog pink.

Penny also loved music and dance. She shared her love of musicals with all of her family; any conversation could erupt in song. She proudly showed off pictures of all of the outfits her mother made for her dance recitals. She was a Camp Fire Girl, and a member of her high school's drill team and choir. School had always been difficult for her, and yet she enrolled herself in college, while being a full-time mom, to learn computers and accounting, and did very well there. She loved flowers, but unfortunately could kill a cactus. She joined Girl Scouts as a leader in 1979, where she was called “One Cent.” She loved skits and joined her dear friend and co-leader, Rita Goldenstein, in “Peanut Butter and Jelly” as their signature song.

Penny was a force to be reckoned with. She was responsible for the installation of rain planks at the curbs of the elementary school so we could cross the street during rain storms, as well as having crossing guards at the same crosswalks. She showed no fear during a citizen’s arrest of a drunken neighbor. She spent countless hours working public relations for Upland High School’s choir for their Elizabethan Dinners. She sewed numerous clothes and Halloween costumes for all of her children, and beautiful dresses for Barbara and Christine to wear for so many occasions. Her skill with knitting and crochet gave many of us blankets to remember her by. Penny lived her life as joyfully as she could and loved to laugh as often as she could. She loved parties and social gatherings. Spending time with her family and friends was the highlight of her life.

One important thing Penny taught us was that it was better to laugh than to cry in almost any stressful situation. She said, “Find the humor and things aren’t so bad.” Her go-to songs were “I Love to Laugh” from Mary Poppins and “My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music.

Penny is survived by her loving husband of 55 years: Gilbert Streifel; four children: Barbara (Robert) Sanders, Christine (Brett) Viestenz, Jim (Angela) Streifel, Paul Streifel; nine grandchildren: David, Samantha, Nicholas, Olivia, Gideon, Evan, Everett, Elise, Vivian; two great grandchildren: Emelia, Amber; three siblings Roger (Teresa) Ransom, Melvin Ransom, Michael Ransom.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Clyde Ransom.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, July 9, 2024, from 9:30–10:30 a.m. at Stone Funeral Home, 355 East 9th Street, Upland, CA 91786. A Funeral Mass will follow from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 877 N Campus Avenue, Upland, CA 91786. A Rite of Committal service will follow the Mass from 1:00–2:00 p.m. at Bellevue Memorial Park, 1240 West G Street, Ontario, CA 91762.

Family requests the dress code be bright and cheery, to the best of everyone’s ability.

In lieu of flowers, Penny had hoped family and friends might make a donation to the Dominican Sisters–Grand Rapids, an order she had once been a part of before deciding she wanted to marry and have children. She always had such fond memories of her time spent and friends made there. Donations can be made “In Memory of Penelope Ransom Streifel” by check payable to Dominican Sisters–Grand Rapids, 111 Lakeside Dr NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, or online at https://www.grdominicans.org/support-us/.