SUNDAY MAY 27 2018 THE FRESNO BEE 5C Tributes Services Announcements Leave a message in our online Guest Book www.legacy.com/fresnobee Share your thoughts. For more information regarding this section, call our Obits department at (559)441-6228 for an appointment, 9:30 A.M. 11:00 A.M. ETHEL ROBERTA LICALSI Ethel Roberta Licalsi was born on April 11, 1935, to Robert Newton Lowder II, and Ethel Phenell Beltz Lowder in Grants Pass, OR. The family moved to Fresno, CA when Roberta was a small child.
Roberta passed away on Saturday, May 19, 2018, at the age of 83, after a six month battle with cancer. She will forever be remembered for her giving and sacrifice for her friends and family. She was known to most as Roberta. Her husband's family affectionately referred to her as "Bobbie." Her family called her "Berta." Roberta graduated from Washington Union High School in 1953. In 1957, Roberta met Ernie Licalsi.
Upon their first meeting, neither Roberta nor Ernie thought much of the other's attitude. Her children are eternally gratefully that both reluctantly agreed to a double date with their best friends, Bill and Donna Pointkowski in 1956. They were married in April of 1957. For their entire marriage, Roberta was a homemaker. She also took on the admirable task of being the wife of a police officer.
As such, Roberta was often required to stand in for her husband at her children's various school functions. She also served as den mother for her son's Cub Scout troop. In 1977, Ernie passed away. Roberta then became the sole provider for herself and her three chil- dren. She worked for over 20 years as a law librarian for various law firms in Fresno.
She also fulfilled Ernie's last wishes by financing their son's law school education. After her husband's death, Roberta would occupy any free time she had by going out dancing with her many friends. She also enjoyed travelling with her sister Wilma. In her later years, Roberta was an avid bingo player. Roberta was preceded in death by her husband, Ernie Licalsi; her son, David Licalsi; her parents, Robert and Ethel Lowder; her brother, Hubert "Bert" Ereman; and her sisters, Lorene Thacker, and Christine Jensen.
Roberta is survived by her sisters, Wilma Owen, and Evelyn Hanco*ck; her brother, Robert Lowder and his wife Marcia; her son and his wife, Ernie and Susie LiCalsi; her daughter, Carolyn Licalsi; and her daughter, Kathleen Licalsi and her husband, Tony Garza. She is also survived by her grandchil- dren, Eric LiCalsi and his wife Yvonne, Joseph LiCalsi and his partner David, Kaleigh Garza, and Antonio Garza; and her great-grandchild, Luca LiCalsi. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, whom she dearly loved. The family would like to personally thank Dr. Greg Copeland and his staff for their wonderful and thoughtful care of Roberta in her final months.
A Memorial Service will be held at Clovis Funeral Chapel on Friday, June 1, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. Feel free to wear blue, Roberta's favorite color. Remembrances may be made to the American Cancer Society. GUADALUPE J. FLORES June 6.
1931 May 15, 2018 Guadalupe J. Flores, age 86, a long time resi- dent of Clovis, CA, passed away peacefully, after a long illness on Tuesday, May 15, 2016, with his family at his bedside. Born on June 6, 1931, in San Diego de Alejandria, Jalisco, Mexico, he was the son of Lucia Jimenez Rea and Flores. A loving, caring, and dedicated husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Guadalupe was known for his work ethic, as well as his strong and decisive approach to life in general and especially in business. He was married to the late Celia Flores.
Guadalupe came to the United States at the age of 13. His family left his home in Mexico in 1944, and traveled to La Feria, TX. From an early age, Guadalupe proved to be a hard worker. His inclination to be an entrepre- neur was evident early on when he would buy old bicycles, fix them and sell. He also earned a living as a barber, though at the time he only charged 50 cents per haircut.
In wanting to expand his ho- rizons, Lupe, as he was known, came to California looking for new opportunities. He settled in Clovis, an area he loved due to its peacefulness and abundance of work in agricul- ture. Wanting to settle down and start a family, he returned to Texas and asked his girlfriend, Celia Bernal, to marry him. The wedding was cel- ebrated in her hometown of Matehuala, San Luis Potosi, Mexico, in January of 1956. The young couple arrived to Clovis in February of 1956.
While at first, Guadalupe worked in many occupations in order to support his family, in November of 1978, Guadalupe and Celia opened a Mexican food restaurant they called La Posada on Pollasky Avenue in downtown Clovis. It quickly became a Clovis area favorite and stayed open for 39 years until the couple's retirement. Guadalupe always took pride in being a business owner. They were proud Clovis residents. Guadalupe and Celia strongly believed in giving back to their community and regularly donated to many Clovis area schools as well as to many organizations that would sought their support.
They restaurant was frequently the site of orga- nization meetings at no charge. A devout Catholic, Guadalupe was active in his church's Guadalupe Society where he held sev- eral officer positions including Sergeant of Arms and Banner holder. His Guadalupe Society mem- bership lasted more than 60 years of his mem- bership. Though fully involved in the family busi- ness, he and Celia always made time to person- ally get involved in church and community events. Among other things, he volunteered to go to the Korean Conflict, but due to his limited lan- guage skills at the time, he was not able to be enlisted.
He will be dearly missed by family and friends. Descanse en paz. He is survived by his six children, Xavier, Santos, Armando and Flores; as well as 17 grandchildren; and two great grandchil- dren. A Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be held in his honor at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Clovis, CA, on Tuesday, May 29, 2018, at 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated for Guadalupe at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church on Wednesday, May 30, 2018, at 12:00 noon, with a Burial to follow at the Clovis Cemetery.
A recep- tion for family and friends will be held at Notre Dame Hall in Clovis, CA, after the funeral. Condolences may be offered by visiting www.boicefuneralhome.com BOICE FUNERAL HOME 308 Pollasky Avenue Clovis, California (559)299-4372 BETTY KOTCHEVAR Betty Kotchevar, 91, of Kingsburg (form- erly of Porterville and Clovis) passed away on Thursday, May 17, 2018, in Fresno. Betty Jean Thomp- son was born in San Bernardino, California on October 4, 1926. She was only six weeks old when her mother, Ora Thomp- son, passed away. Betty was raised by her maternal grand- parents, Robert and Amy McGough.
They moved to the Porter- ville area when Betty was six years old. She attended Strath- more High School, and married Porter- ville farmer Albert Kotchevar in 1943. She lived in Porter- ville for 40 years, at which time she relo- cated to Clovis. Betty is survived by four daughters: Mary Haven of Visalia; Donna Eastland (Mar- lin) of Kingsburg; Kay Mulligan (Chris) of Shingle Springs; and Terri Kotchevar of Fresno. In addition to her daughters, Betty is survived by her broth- ers, Douglas Charles and Gary Clinken- beard; grandchildren, Brian Haven (Kerry); Stacie Bernard (Tim); Kevin Ruiz (Jessyca); Scott Mulligan (Hil- ary); Terry J.
McKinley (Leila); Brandon East- land; Shawn Munch (Joe); and 14 great- grandchildren. Betty was preceded in death by her par- ents, Simon and Ora Thompson; grandpar- ents, Robert and Amy McGough; a brother, Ralph Sharp; sons-in- law, Terry P. McKinley and Don Haven; granddaughter, Tracy McKinley; and grand- son, Gregory Mulligan. Betty was a member of St. Anne's Church, Catholic Daughters of America, and St.
Anne's Mothers' Club. Her career included working at Lindsay Hospital, as a recep- tionist at Lusk Studios in Porterville, and at a hair salon in Clovis. A Graveside Service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 31, 2018, at Hill- crest Cemetery, 1013 East Olive Avenue (Putnam and Crest- view), in Porterville. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Myers Funeral Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, it was Betty's wish that memorial donations be given to Sepsis Alliance, 1855 First Avenue, Suite 102, San Diego, California 92101, or via their website: www.sepsis.org DOLORES JEAN HAYES Dolores Jean Hayes was born on August 20, 1930, in Lemoore, CA. She had lived in Fresno, CA with her immediate family for over the last 60 years. Dolores passed away on Monday, May 21, 2018, in Fresno, CA, with her family by her side at the age of 87. She was a woman who was loved and adored by all. Dolores was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmo- ther.
Dolores married Junior Hayes in 1955, and together they had six children. From those six children they have seven grandchil- dren, and 12 great- grandchildren. Dolores worked at Pacific Bell for many years where she worked her way up from a switchboard operator to manage- ment, until she retired in 1989 to take care of her grandchildren. Dolores was prece- ded in death by her fa- ther, Manuel Vierra; mother, Mary Vierra; brother, Clarence Vie- rra; sister, Shirley Up- ton; daughters, Jay- lene Hayes, and Letricia Diaz; and sons, Rick Hayes and Bob Hayes. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Junior Hayes; daughter, Cynthia Le- Beau and her husband Lonnie; son, Kevin Hayes; son-in-law, Jess Diaz; daughter- in-law, Carol Hayes; grandchildren, Alysia, Brianne, Jennifer, Kimberly, Donovan, Neil, and Brandon; many great-grand- children; and other fa- mily members.
Visitation will be held at Whitehurst, Sulli- van, Burns Blair Funeral Home on Tuesday, May 29, 2018, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary Queen of Apostles Catholic Church on Wednes- day, May 30, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. Interment to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. Condolences may be offered by visiting whitehurstsullivan.com WHITEHURST Sullivan, Burns Blair Funeral Home Fresno (559)227-4048.
