Providence High School Class of 1959: Joyce Speeter Sfetku

THE PIONEERS

THE PIONEERS

We are the Pioneers because we were the first. We started school in tents due to the steel strike in 1955. We were the only class - all freshmen, then in the following years, always the upperclassmen. Because we were such a small class, we all knew one another. We chose the school colors, uniform, and wrote our alma matter. We published the first yearbook and named it "Esprit" for our sense of spirit. And we were the first class to celebrate a 50th reunion - still the Pioneers. How wonderful to reminisce and reconnect with one another!

PHS 50 YEAR SCHOLARSHIP FUND

PHS 50-YEAR CLUB SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Following our 50-year class reunion in March 2009, the class of '59 gifted Providence High School with a special scholarship fund to be used for financially-needy students. This fund is called: PHS 50-Year Club Scholarship Fund. This fund will last in perpetuity as long as we, and other classes as they reach the 50-year anniversary of their graduations, continue to contribute to it. If you are able and willing to contribute to our alma mater, will you please designate "PHS 50-Year Scholarship Fund" as the payee on your check or credit card gift. With our assistance the scholarship will go on forever -- and the Class of 1959 will always be remembered.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Joyce Speeter Sfetku

50th Reunion Greetings!

I have enjoyed reading so many wonderful BIO entries on the great BLOG Carol Rando Irsfeld created. Very pleasing to see PHS class of 1959 is so very industrious. "Good Job" to all! The 50th Reunion Committee Members are doing a marvelous job, and know this special reunion will be extremely memorable. It is so very sad loosing 5 of our former classmates, but special for the fond memorials. These girls obviously were good friends to many. May their souls rest in peace.
After graduation I went to Valley Jr. College, and worked part time at the May Co. (Laurel Plaza). I really was not happy with school, but did take some very worthy classes in retailing, advertising and accounting. I worked my way up through many departments, at the May Co., ending up as a Department Manager. I stayed with May Co. for 9 yrs. After leaving May Co., I was offered a job with Blue Cross of So. Calif., in their Membership Records Dept. (Accounting). My accounts included University of Calif. system (5 Southern Campuses), plus all University of Calif. retirees in the state of Calif., Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Association, and County of Los Angeles. I left Blue Cross just prior to them moving to Warner Center. I, then, went to work for Neutrogena Corp. I started in their Advertising Dept., and then moved into the Accounting Dept. I stayed with Neutrogena Corp. until the birth of my son in January of 1979.
I met my first husband in 1965. We were married in August of 1966. Sadly, I lost him to heart problems at age 30, after 6 years of marriage.
I met my present husband, Robert Sfetku, through a very dear friend from May Co. In November we will be married 35 years. Bob has 2 boys from a previous marriage. We were so fortunate to have them come to live with us after we married. What an exciting time and learning experience I had. These 2 boys, ages 8 and 10, were a total gift from God. After being told I could never conceive...I made history...It was such a very exciting experience for our family. Our little miracle boy was born in Jan. 1979...3 weeks early...healthy and we all were so excited to have him join our family. I then became a stay at home mom. I very quickly became involved with school volunteering and after school sports activities, with the older boys. As Eric grew older, I was able to do more volunteering, both in school, and our church. By the time Eric was in elementary school, I had a passion for Children's Literature, getting very involved with elementary school libraries. I was so fortunate to become part of the staff at St. Catherine's in Reseda. I worked the school library for 9 yrs. I initiated the St. Catherine's Scrip Program, and headed the candy drive for 5 years. These years were the happiest ever. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to be a stay at home mom, and be very involved with the boys, in both school and other activities. These years were my fun years. All 3 boys are married and very happy. Now, Bob and I are enjoying our grandchildren, 2 girls and 2 boys, ages 18 yrs to 22 months, and another due late July 2009.
We currently live in Portland, OR. We moved to Oregon in June of 1994. Fully retiring by 1997. We still enjoy exploring the Northwest. All the way from the Oregon/Washington coast to the inland areas. We have our big black Labrador, BJ, who is our constant sidekick...he loves the beach, car rides...most of all his tennis ball...such a goofy guy! Our life is simple, fun with never a dull moment. Bob enjoys his hot rods, car shows, and fishing. We both enjoy our home, friends, and grandkids. My hobbies include grandchildren, gardening, reading, crocheting and knitting. I'm hoping to squeeze a beginning art class into my weekly schedule. I have no real talent, but do have an interest! We both try to walk most every day...rain or shine. My life is full, and I have been very blessed. You all played a roll in my very early years, and I am so very thankful to reconnect with my very best high school friend, Virginia Keefer Pullen. Thanks Devi! I do wish each of you God's blessings with happiness along with good health.
Sincerely, Joyce Speeter Sfetku

POSTED BY JOYCE SPEETER SFETKU

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Margarita Acosta

I remember that Margarita was a National Merit Scholarship Winner and I was very impressed when I found out later that she was in the top 1% of tested Seniors.

I also have a funny memory. Margarita convinced me to join a group called THE FIGHTING 69ers. It was for young women who would pledge to uphold the principles of the 6th and 9th commandments. Joiner that I am, I signed on and became a card carrying member until Tom Wright found the card in my wallet and MADE me REMOVE it IMMEDIATELY. I had to wait for the reason why. I don't want to offend anyone, but that is a true story. Does anyone else remember or admit to being a member of that little organization?--- Devi Savitt Bellows

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Margarita was one of six who entered the order of the Sisters of Charity of Providence a few months after high school graduation, and she was the only one who did not eventually leave the order. In 1963, before she finished college, she was called to teach biology, chemistry and Latin at Providence Academy in Vancouver. The following year she returned to Providence Heights College of Sister Formation to finish her BA and obtain grade and high school teacher certification. During the next 10 years she taught at schools in Washington and Burbank, California. In 1975 she chose to explore her writing abilities by joining the Public Relations Office of the Sisters of Providence health care corporations. She eventually became a writer and photographer for the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Seattle, all the while developing a growing interest in health planning and administration. In the early 80s Sr. Margarita received a Master’s degree in public health from Yale University, with a specialty in hospital administration, planning, marketing and finance. She was always interested in current events and the plight of the poor. In the mid '90s Sr. Margarita was diagnosed with leukemia and eventually underwent a stem cell transplant. She passed away about 2 months after the procedure. Her funeral service was at the same facility where she entered the novitiate a few decades before, and her pall bearers were 6 other Sisters of Providence.--- Carol Lex Tanner

Marcia Adams Henry

Marcia was the third of five children in her family. Her brother, Michael, who became a priest, was the only boy. She came to PHS from St. Robert Bellarmine Parish in Burbank. After graduation she became a stewardess with United Airlines, based in San Francisco.
Marcia married Hal Urban, who was a basketball star at USF. They had three boys: Daniel, Mark and Michael. After a divorce, she continued to live in the Bay Area and married Larry Henry. She was the Executive Secretary for the Director of the SF Bay Area March of Dimes Foundation. She died on New Year's Eve of a massive coronary while driving a car.

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Marcia's mother's nickname, "Sunny" could easily apply to her, also....the outgoing, friendly manner, often with her cohort, Mary Baedeker.... with twinkly eyes and ready for fun! --- Kathy Thesing Ramdin

Patt Collette Scannell

I am blessed to have had Patt for my close friend for almost 50 years. We met the first day of school at PHS and our friendship continued until she died.
Patt was one of the most positive people I have ever known. She was very smart though she did poorly in school, but she worked hard and never gave up. She used to tell me that she had trouble reading, that things did not make sense to her; she found out many years later that she was dyslexic.
She raised three wonderful children pretty much single-handedly, and suffered poor health for many years. In spite of her hardships, Patt always found the silver lining. When she was going through chemo for her cancer, she told me she looked forward to chemo days, because she met many nice people and it gave her a chance to socialize; she thought maybe she even helped cheer people up sometimes. I am sure she did - MANY times. She was a person of great faith and it never waivered. She smiled far more than she frowned and she loved to laugh. She also loved Providence. Often she told me that her 4 years at PHS were among her happiest memories. How she loved to reminisce!
About 5 months before she died, she called us. We had moved to Alaska by that time. She called to say goodbye. She was very close to my husband, Peter, as well, and she wanted to talk with both of us. She told us that she thought she would not make it through the night and she wanted us to know that she was ready and that it was ok, and that she loved us and we were not supposed to be sad; she was going to a better place and she'd always "be around" watching us. It was very hard to hang up the phone, and of course, we cried.... the next day, we received another phone call. It was Patt. Her opening words "I'm back!" and she was laughing. It seems that there was an insulin problem and she was in fact, dying. Fortunately they discovered what went wrong and brought her back. That gave us an opportunity to see her one more time and talk with her on the phone often; we "heard" the smiles in her voice. I know she will be with us for our reunion; she wouldn't miss it!
These photos reflect her wonderful smile. The last one was taken at our final visit with her, less than four months before she died. We had a wonderful visit, filled with laughter and those reminiscences---Carol Rando Irsfeld

Dianne Dvorak

Dianne Marie Dvorak was born October 21 1941 in Cleveland Ohio. Beginning in grade school, Roller-skating developed into a lifelong passion. Dianne won many competitions and awards figure skating and dancing with a partner. The Dvorak family relocated to Southern California during Dianne's High School years.
After graduation from Providence H.S. Dianne started a family. Always a working mother, she sought out paid work that could be done from home until her children, Cheyenne and Brian reached school age. After twelve years of employment at United Recording Electronics Industries, Dianne moved with her family to Pollock Pines in the Sierra Nevada Foothills of Northern California.
After a divorce and a second marriage, Dianne embraced a rural lifestyle. At one point, using the telephone required driving down an unpaved road and climbing a telephone to get onto a party line ala the television sitcom Green Acres. While helping her husband to run his construction business, she and the family raised pigs on their land.
After a second divorce, Dianne continued to enjoy an outdoor lifestyle when she acquired her own ten acre property. After seeing a flyer advertising a fund raising bike ride for breast cancer, Dianne participated in a ride that sparked a love for cycling. She enjoyed dating, taking weekend road trips and took great pleasure in making many beautiful quilts that she intended to be her loving legacy to her family.
After a mastectomy in 1988, Dianne continued to live with cancer, going into and out of remission until her death in May 1994.

Frances Nairn Hansen

Soon after graduation, Frances married, had a son and moved to Philadelphia. After a short, unhappy time, she divorced and returned to North Hollywood CA, her former home, and worked as a supermarket checker. Her husband, Raymond, tells the following story: After a stint in the Navy, Raymond was hired as a box boy at the same market as Frances. When he was being shown around the store, he saw Frances coming down the stairs. He said to himself: that's the girl for me!.....He found his soul mate. They married, raised three boys and had 37 years together. She developed a brain tumor, battled for a year before the end on November 17, 2003. She will be rememered fondly for her quiet manner and sweet smile.

Janet Opperman Correa

Obituary from Lancaster Eagle Gazette (Ohio)

Janet Esther Opperman Correa, age 74, went home to be with the Lord on December 12, 2016. She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Arthur Correa and grandson, John Joseph. She is survived by her children, Dean, Melanie, Darren, and Terah; grandchildren, Avree, Skylar, Riley, Lucas; and siblings, Jack and Jean. Janet was a lover of genealogy, photography and most importantly her family. She was the greatest wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend who will be deeply missed.

THE PIONEERS

50TH REUNION

PHS 50 YEAR SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Joyce Speeter Sfetku

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