Geneva Francis Mengel

Geneva Francis Mengel
Geneva (Gene) Francis Mengel age 97 passed away on March 26, 2011 in her home surrounded by her family and loving caregiver, Ketty. She was born on December 11, 1913 in a one room cabin surrounded by apple trees in Grand Junction, Colorado. She and her family crossed the Mojave Desert in a Model T Ford and made it to Hemet, California where she grew up with her sister and brother. She learned to drive at 14 and drove her family and friends to dances all over the valley. She got her first job in Palm Springs where she met the love of her life John and was married. They lived in Los Angeles, San Clemente, and Hemet before returning to San Clemente 30 years ago. She loved photography and gardening. Her cymbidiums and roses won Blue Ribbons at the San Clemente Garden Show. She was well known at Shore Gardens and Armstrong’s Nurseries. She could be seen daily with her friend Georgie, walking their dogs by the San Clemente Municipal Golf Course. They both wore pith helmets to avoid head injuries by errant golf balls! Gene was preceded in death by her husband John and her brother Bill. Her sister resides in Palm Springs and is still going strong at 95. She leaves her two daughters, Johanna (Bob) and Teresa (Tom), two grandchildren, Rob and Amy, and four great grandchildren Braden, Avery, Alex, and Katlyn. We all will miss her bright smile and kind heart. “Good-oh!” as she would always say.

A viewing will be held at the Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona del Mar on Saturday, April 2nd from 1:00 to 4:00 PM.