Mom was born on March 12, 1941, in New Jersey. She and Aunt Edie moved with Grandpa and Grandma to Arcata when Mom was 11 or 12. She went to Stewart School in Arcata, and graduated from Arcata High School in 1959. In 1961, Mom married Dad, Tom Reynolds. They raised two daughters, Kathy and Dianne, in Arcata. We lived in three different houses lovingly built by Dad and made into homes by Mom.

Mom was a gourmet cook, extremely crafty, an excellent seamstress, could meticulously fix anything, and enjoyed working in her yard. When I got married, she amazingly made my bridesmaids’ dresses, altering the form-fitting pattern to each of their seven womanly figures. Mom was very active in our lives growing up, and taught us so much.

After raising her girls, in her early 40s, Mom enjoyed volunteering as a “Pink Lady” at the Hospital, served as the auxiliary president, and was able to do some traveling for conventions. During this time, Mom met and married her second husband, Joseph Del Grande. They were together for 37 years, when Joseph passed away in December, 2022. A couple years after their marriage, Mom went to work full-time as a cashier at Big Loaf Bakery in Eureka, then at Wildberries in Arcata, and finally cashiered at Blue Lake Casino. She worked there until she was 80. She and Joseph also really enjoyed playing at the casinos, when they weren’t preparing incredible meals at home for family and friends. They also traveled to Lucca, Italy to visit Joseph’s family.

Mom enjoyed time with her girls, her two grandkids, and four great-grandkids. She enjoyed the grandkids’ sporting events, and even traveled to Klamath Falls for college graduations. She really had a fun day, late this last November, meeting her new great-granddaughter, and playing with her grandson. Mom was so happy that day, with many smiles.

We had no idea she would be gone two weeks later. She passed away at 84, suddenly and unexpectedly, on December 13, 2025. We miss you so much, Mom!

Mom was so loved by her sister Edith Stromberg; daughters Kathy Wood (Larry) and Dianne Reynolds; her grandkids Thomas Wood (Tanya) and Jacqueline Eskra (Ross); her great grandkids Gregory and Daniel Wood, and Virgil and Maren Eskra; stepson Mark Del Grande (Angela); and step grandkids Mason, AJ, Sergio, and Aria; and nieces and nephews.

You are invited to join us in a graveside memorial service at Greenwood Cemetery in Arcata, on February 7, at 3 p.m. – followed by a gathering at her daughter’s house in McKinleyville.