All Obituaries

Aurora Juarez Sapien was born in Mexico on December 4, 1933, to the parents Francisco Juarez and Maria Carrillo.  She has been a resident of Merced County for 56 years and passed away peacefully on May 14, 2022 at the age of 88.  She was married for 39 years to (husband) Henry G. Sapien, and remained widowed for 26 years after his passing.  Aurora was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.  She was also very involved in her Parish as a...

Louise “Sissy” Emmert passed away on May 8, 2022 at the age of 89 in her home surrounded by her loving family. Born on July 20th, 1932 in Merced to William James and Doris Turner, Louise was to spend most of her life here.  During a 66 year marriage to Allan Emmert, she raised three daughters and worked as a mail carrier and postal worker.  Late in life she went back to school for training in nursing and attained certification as an LVN at the age of 59.  She put...

El 6 de Mayo de 2022, Celsa Santiago fallecio pacificament mientras dormia. Ella tenia 83 ańos de edad. Nativa de Guadalajara, Jalisco, emigro a Winton Ca. en 1981. Celsa era muy querida en su pequeńo pueblo. Celsa era madre de seis hijas y un hijo a cuales le dieron 47 nietos/nietas, 55 bisnietos y 3 tataranietos. A pesar de su numerosa familia, Celsa siempre hizo tiempo para todos. Siempre brindo apoyo y amor a su familia. Celsa y su esposo Miguel trabajaron incansablement para brindar...

Donnell Smith November 25, 1961 – May 6, 2022 Services will be held Wednesday, May 18, for Donnell Louise Smith, 60, who was taken suddenly on May 6, 2022. Donnell was the mother of Kaitlin Smith, who was the joy of her life; and wife of 38 years to Mike Smith of Merced. Donnell attended elementary schools in Merced before moving to Modesto where she graduated from Grace M Davis High School. She would go on to receive her BA and Masters in Child & Human Development. Donnell had...

Linda J. Wegner beloved Wife, Mother, Grandmother, and Sister passed away May 1, 2022, surrounded by her family. Born Linda J. Heising November 11, 1953 in East Meadows, New York, to Paul and Helen Heising. Linda and her six siblings moved to Simi, Ca in the 1960’s. After graduating California State University Stanislaus in 1976 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, Linda moved to Atwater to work as a manager for Mervyn’s. After being introduced by her future...

In memory of  Alberto Hernandez 7/03/2001-4/30/2022 Alberto Hernandez, a 20 year old son, grandson, brother, friend and coworker, passed away on 4/30/2022 leaving a whole in our family's heart. Alberto had many passions in life and an amazing heart towards anyone he would meet. From being a brother to a friend he was always there to count on whenever someone needed it. He loved many things, but the most important thing he loved was his family. He would do anything for his family,...

Claudia Ann Blake was born on December 17, 1937 to parents Joel Blake and Beatrice Perkins in Oklahoma City, OK.  She had three brothers and a younger sister. Claudia passed away on April 20, 2022 after a 5-year battle with dementia. She was 84 years old. Claudia is survived by her two twin sons Jim (Tasha) and John (Becky), six grandchildren, Tommy, Joshua, Jordan, Jacob, Zachary and Jennifer and three great granddaughters, Hana, Isaya and Josie.  She was preceded in death...

SEMTNER, WELFARE REFORMER, ARTIST, SOROPTIMIST, DIES AT 78 Sandra Lou Semtner, who led one of the largest reforms of welfare in the nation, died on April 20 after a short battle with cancer.  She was 78. “Sandy” to friends and family, retired to Mariposa 25 years ago after a 35-year career with the Los Angeles Department of Public Social Services. Sandy began her career as a field case worker after graduating with honors from Occidental College.   She became Special...