Aldene Patricia Fanoe, 95, passed away November 3, 2018 at her home in Salinas surrounded by her loving family.
Aldene was born in Salinas, California on August 24, 1923 to James P. and Elva M. Dolan. She spent her childhood with her sisters Alda and Lorraine on the family ranch in the Blanco District of Salinas. She had a particularly close bond with Alda, her twin-sister and lifelong friend and companion. She was a member of Salinas High School’s class of 1942, where she was voted Harvest Queen. After high school, she moved to Los Angeles to work as a Mimeographer for the Wyoolie Company during World War II and was active with the U.S.O.
Upon her return home in 1944, while Christmas shopping with her mother at Porter and Irvine, she was introduced to Henry “Tweet” Fanoe. It was love at first sight and they were married on May 25, 1946. They had seven children together and lived at the Fanoe Ranch in Gonzales, where Aldene was very involved in her children’s activities, as room mother and member of the PTA. She and Tweet loved to travel to Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, and Santa Maria with their friends and family.
Tweet passed away at the age of 45, leaving Aldene to raise their children on her own. After Tweet’s passing, she worked at Gonzales High School and the Monterey County Election Board, while also volunteering with Entre Nous and YLI.
Aldene was a gracious hostess and always made her house a place where friends, family, and strangers felt welcome. She was a joyfully devoted grandparent and great grandparent who kept an absurdly well-stocked candy cabinet, would drive her grandkids anywhere, and made her home a kid’s wonderland filled with Winchell’s Donuts, 7-11 Slurpees, Monopoly, Super Nintendo, pillow forts, sleepovers, and trips to Toys R Us.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry “Tweet” Fanoe, her mother and father, beloved sister Lorraine, and best pal/twin sister Alda Lauritson.
She is survived by her daughter, Lesley (Duane), son, Henry (Denise), daughter, Deborah (Brian), daughter, Patricia (Ron), son, Matthew (Doris), son, Mark (Kathy), son, Jon (Kitti), as well as 17 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, cousins, and her dearest friend Irene Rush.
The family would also like to thank her wonderful team of caregivers: Charito, Sylvia, Liza, Julie, Peta, Leni, and Lou.
Aldene put lots of love into the world, and it was returned to her at the end of her life.
Visitation will be held 1:00p.m. to 5:00p.m. Thursday, November 15, 2018 at Struve and Laporte Chapel, 41 W. San Luis Street Salinas, CA 93901.
Rosary will be held 7:00p.m. Thursday, November 15, 2018 at the Blessed Edmund Rice Chapel, Palma High 919 Iverson Street, Salinas CA, 93901.
Funeral Mass will be held 10:00a.m. November 16, 2018 at Sacred Heart Church, 22 Stone Street, Salinas CA 93901.
Burial to follow at Gonzales District Cemetery, 1000 US 101 South, Gonzales, CA. 93926.
The family requests memorial donations be made to: Campaign for the Preservation of Mission San Antonio de Padua, P.O. Box 450, King City, CA 93930 or Central Coast VNA & Hospice, Inc., P.O. Box 2480, Monterey, CA 93942-2480.
Funeral Arrangements by Struve and Laporte Funeral Home.
Online condolences to www.struveandlaporte.com
