Marian Joyce (Benning) Kroetch
(1930 - 2017)
Seattle, King County, Washington United States
White Blossom Care Center in San Jose, Santa Clara County, California United States
She had many friends and relatives in California, Washington state, England and Wales. Her best childhood and lifelong closest friend was Beverley Scoffone in Monte Sereno California. Joyce loved to be a grandmother and spent countless weekends with her grandchildren. She lived in the California Hawaiin mobile home park at 3637 Snell Ave in San Jose for many years when it was a retirement community.
Ethnicity & Lineage
Nationality & Locations
Education
Religion
Professions
She worked both in Emergency Services (on Communication Hill) in San Jose, California and at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center - an emergency hospital & clinic - where both of her daughters ended up working for a number of years as well.
Joyce was highly respected from the janitors to doctors and the board.
A further note: When she was pregnant with me (her eldest), she worked at Gerber Foods, a local cannery, on the line. After I and my sister were born, she worked on the switchboard at San Jose Water Company. When we moved to Seattle for a few years, she worked as office help for a dentist and then when we moved back to Santa Clara County (Saratoga), she worked through Manpower, a temporary help agency. The majority of her professional life was spent in some capacity around the medical profession.
When Joyce was in high school, she volunteered as a Candy Striper at a local hospital. To her great dismay, she was assigned a patient by room number and when she got to the room, she discovered that it was her father. She didn't even know that her father was ill - and that it was terminal. The experience haunted her during her entire life.
The medical profession seems to be a generational theme running through her maternal line. Joyce's Welsh grandmother, when she didn't get along with her stepmother, moved as a teen to London and worked "with the Sisters". Her mother, in her later life, worked as a vocational nurse at a nursing home in Seattle, a hospital in Seward Alaska, a hospital in Redwood City CA, and as a caretaker in Mesa, AZ. So Joyce followed suit? Joyce's eldest worked in the Public Health Dept. out of college, and off and on at a local hospital. Her other daughter retired from the same hospital.
Personal Life
Military Service
Average Age
Life Expectancy
1C butter
4 oz cream cheese
1C sugar
l egg yolk
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond extr.
2-1/2 C flour
Cream butter. Add sugar, egg yolk, cream cheese, salt, vanilla & almond.
Mix. Add flour.
Divide into 3 portions and chill until firm. Roll into balls, 3/4" - 1" each, press down with sugared glass.
Bake 8 min. @ 400 degrees, ungreased cookie sheet.
To double, use l egg instead of 2 yolks. I lightly color 1/3 pink and 1/3 green. Proceed as above.
After a few days, grandma would cut some lace into squares and I would fill each snippet with a healthy dose of lavender and close the top as best as I could. She would then wrap the top for me with ribbons.
Once we had a handful of these I then went door to door to sell lavender to the seniors living in the retirement park. I mean, who could resist a young boy selling lavender? I remember telling them it was great to put in their sock drawers. lol
Thank you grandma for helping me learn what it was like to run a small business at such an early age. It's funny to think that only 8 years later, when I got my drivers license, the first thing I did was return to that mobile home park, and others nearby, to offer my gardening services. But that's another story...
Laynie and Daniel,
You have had a few questions, Daniel, about the "young" me and I'm sure Laynie will as she gets older, so I am putting my thoughts to paper now since I had incorporated the following into a letter I sent off recently.
My first love is music. The classics, because of growing up with them and my years of piano lessons, and the 1940s, war years with, as has been said, the most romantic music written. (My pre and teen years) But also, I try to see all the Broadway musicals that I am able - My One and Only (Tommy Tune and great Gershin music), Cats, Chorus Line; Pirates of Penzance and Annie (London's Drury Lane and Palace Theatres), and with luck, Les Miserables in June of this year. I ushered for two years at the Circle Star in Redwood City (late 1980s) and saw most of the "big names", Sinatra (great), Tom Jones (too noisy even in the Ladies' Room!), Willie Nelson - kick in the butt!, Johnny Cash, Kay Starr, Perry Como, Liberace, Roger Williams, Harry Belafonte (at the Center), Tony Bennett. These are probably singers that you will never know much about!
I love to travel - have spent 7 or 8 months in the British Isles (my favorite) and the Continent, Greece and Turkey. Most trips were alone - meet lots of the natives that way and I would just hop the train and go where it took me - with a little planning, of course. I enjoy talking to people - from teenagers to the 'old ones' - and met our relatives in Wales whom I have visited since. And Cousins Gwyneth and Jennifer have been over to visit us - when you were a little one, Daniel.
I'm a hard working employee, loyal, good supervisor and trainer, am trusted with much that is confidential, have a good working relationship with all levels of management, enjoy my position and can't wait to retire!! (Keep hoping I will win the Reader's Digest Contest and retire SOON.) If I ever won a lot of money I would buy all my friends the thing they wanted most, each of your mommys and myself a new car and depending on how much, a new house each plus a nice savings account for each of you and lot of money to Martha's Kitchen to feed the hungry!
My greatest joys are my daughters and grandchildren (that's you!) - we're close (I think), can discuss anything - and often do. Probably my greatest 'passion' are the 49ers. I've been a rabid fan since 1950 or 51 and my close friends know better than to telephone me when they are playing because I probably won't answer. But, of course, your moms and I call back and forth on a particularly good play!
My greatest regret was my 2nd marriage and my only envy is a happily married couple. After the 2nd divorce I was so fed up, slightly bitter and afraid that I could not have fun with anyone and, worse yet, no one could have fun with me. Then I met my dear friend 'K' and we had such a wonderful time - so much laughter and closeness - and he died. I really couldn't bear to see anyone else for too many years. And now I've been alone for 15 years which has been long enough to become opinionated, stubborn, and used to doing things one way - MY way!
My other regret is not being able to have had more children. I love them, found them a joy to raise, and would have really enjoyed having foster children. When I worked at Juvenile Probation in the early 70s I wanted to bring half of the kids in the Hall home with me. Later I found I could have a couple but felt I should have a stable man around - not just a home with a working woman.
I'm interested in politics and have usually voted democrat - or independent. Republicans are too concerned with big business, money - and to heck with the people. Cried buckets when the Kennedys were assassinated but then I'm a little soft that way - wand worse with animals (not the eating kind).
One of my 'fun' days would be to curl up with a good book, good music playing, watch a raging storm, have a nice fire (of course, I don't have a fireplace). I enjoy working in the garden - puttering, really - entertaining, cooking (I am a good cook - or at least used to be. Mexican, Italian, German, Chinese, ENglish pancakes or plain old American). Will have to teach one or both of you how to make the English pancakes and you already make good enchiladas, Daniel.
I dislike: hypocrites, gossips, oysters, rudeness, liver, negativity, guns, pessimism, alcoholism and drugs, inconsideration and rudeness or anyone, turnips, discrimination, inequality among the sexes,
I like: antiques, teddy bears, art & wine shows, owls, exploring country roads, movies with happy endings, ballgames of any kind, hotdogs, walking on the beach, collecting shells (collecting most anything!), black olives, ice cream, coconut cake, dogs and cats and mice and guinea pigs, and flowers of all kinds.
Grandma
Marian's Parents
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Parents:
Relationships:
Marian Joyce (Benning) Kroetch & Frank Edward Kroetch
March 26, 1949 - July 1968Cause of Separation: Divorce
Spouse:
Children:
Marian Joyce (Benning) Kroetch & Jack Wendell Vandever
1970 - 1974Cause of Separation: Divorce
Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County, California, United States
Spouse:
Friends:
Photos and snapshots taken of Marian Joyce (Benning) Kroetch, her Kroetch family, and locations and places or events from her life.
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I FIRST MET YOUR MOM IN FOURTH GRADE WHEN THEY CAME TO BREMERTON. SHE USE(D) TO WEAR HER VERY LONG, THICK BEAUTIFUL HAIR IN ONE LONG BRAID DOWN HER BACK. I WAS SO ENVIOUS!
ALSO REMEMBER WHEN SHE TURNED 13 HER DAD GAVE HER 13 SILVER DOLLARS AND NONE OF US HAD SEEN THEM BEFORE! SO MANY THOUGHTS RUNNING THROUGH MY MIND! THERE WERE TIMES THAT SHE COULD MAKE ME LAUGH SO HARD! SILLY GIRLS!!
Thought of you last night while I spent time on GG's bio. I remember while you lived at Valley Village and spent your time feeding the squirrels in the 'cigarette hut'. The last few times you visited Lisa and me at El Rio you repeatedly said that you had dreamed of this house, or rather had spent time here before. When I explained it was a brand new home it confused you. I thought last night perhaps it's because you connected with where you are today in your final years, and are here with me now.
Celebrating your 89th Birthday Grandma. Update: I sent this prematurely on 10/10....NOW that it's officially your birthday (at 1:36am on 10/11) - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
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Marian “Joyce” Vandever passed away due to natural causes on Sept. 10, 2017 in San Jose, California.
Joyce was born in Seattle, Washington to George and Eileen “Connie” Tasker Benning. She attended schools in Bremerton, Washington where her father owned the local Chevy dealership. Joyce met her future husband, Frank Kroetch, while both were students at the University of Washington. After their marriage in 1949, they relocated to the Willow Glen area of San Jose, California, where both their daughters were born.
Joyce spent her career working as a secretary at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose. She loved traveling to the British Isles, connecting with her many Bremerton High School classmates, and attending plays and musicals.
Joyce was preceded in death by her husbands, Frank Kroetch and Jack Vandever; her sister, Lois Benning Ewen; and stepbrother, Charles H. Barrett. She is survived by her daughters, Kathleen Pinna and Pam Marks (Neil); grandchildren, Daniel Pinna (Lisa) and Layne Marks-Jacobs; and numerous nieces and nephews. (Marian 'Joyce' Vandever passed away due to natural causes on September 10, 2017 at the White Blossom Care Center in San Jose, Ca.
Joyce was born in Seattle, Washington to George and Eileen 'Connie' Tasker Benning. She attended schools in Bremerton, Wa where her father owned the local Chevy dealership. While attending the University of Washington, Joyce met her future husband, Frank Kroetch. After their marriage in 1949, they relocated to the Willow Glen area of San Jose, CA, where both their daughters were born.
Joyce first worked as an operator at the San Jose Water works, and later spent her career working for Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. Joyce served in the position as the secretary to the CFO for over 16 years, then retired 5 years later, while secretary to the head of the mental health division.
Joyce loved traveling to the British Isles, taking road trips with her friends, attending plays and musicals, and spending time with her two grandchildren.
Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, husbands Frank Kroetch and Jack Vandever, her sister Lois Benning Ewen and step-brother Charles H. Barrett. She is survived by her daughters Kathleen and Pam, grandchildren Daniel and Layne, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Marian “Joyce” Vandever
San Jose, CA
Oct. 11, 1930 to Sept. 10, 2017
Refresh this page to see various historical events that occurred during Marian's lifetime.
In 1930, in the year that Marian Joyce (Benning) Kroetch was born, as head of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, William Hays established a code of decency that outlined what was acceptable in films. The public - and government - had felt that films in the '20's had become increasingly risque and that the behavior of its stars was becoming scandalous. Laws were being passed. In response, the heads of the movie studios adopted a voluntary "code", hoping to head off legislation. The first part of the code prohibited "lowering the moral standards of those who see it", called for depictions of the "correct standards of life", and forbade a picture from showing any sort of ridicule towards a law or "creating sympathy for its violation". The second part dealt with particular behavior in film such as homosexuality, the use of specific curse words, and miscegenation.
In 1949, she was 19 years old when on January 25th, the first Emmy Awards (for television) were handed out in Los Angeles. Shirley Dinsdale won for the Most Outstanding Television Personality and Pantomime Quiz Time earned an Emmy for the Most Popular Television Program.
In 1957, at the age of 27 years old, Marian was alive when on October 4th, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik I, the first man made earth-orbiting satellite - and triggered the Space Race. Sputnik I was only 23 inches in diameter and had no tracking equipment, only 4 antennas, but it had a big impact.
In 1962, at the age of 32 years old, Marian was alive when on October 1st, African-American James H. Meredith, escorted by federal marshals, registered at the University of Mississippi - becoming the first African-American student admitted to the segregated college. He had been inspired by President Kennedy's inaugural address to apply for admission.
In 1986, at the age of 56 years old, Marian was alive when on January 28th, the space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after launch. All seven crew members died. The cause of the explosion was later found to be a failed O-ring. The O-ring failure was due to the unusually cold conditions at Cape Canaveral.
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