Cecilia Marie Loretta

Cecilia Marie Loretta was born on August 2, 1944 in Fork, Maryland to Ceal and Joe Smith. In her 20's she migrated to California. For over 20 years she was an educator initially at North Hollywood High and then Westlake High where she was a Gymnastics Coach as well as Business & Accounting teacher until she retired. She met her husband of 48 years, Coach Bill Loretta, when they both chaperoned a group of students in the Cycling Abroad program. Upon retiring she and Bill moved from Newbury Park to Fiddletown CA where they hand on built their own home on 20 acres and lived there for over 25 years. Marie was passionate about nature and animals. She became involved in the local garden clubs and then as an educator by nature, became a Master Gardener and focused on native plants. She became an integral part of the Amador County Master Gardeners Club and Foothill Garden Club and loved sharing her knowledge and passion with others. Everyone Marie met soon became family. She had a genuine love of people and ability to accept them where they were at without judgment. She and Bill enjoyed hosting gatherings of all kinds at their Asta Ave home in Newbury Park, at their vacation home in Ennis, Montana, and Fiddletown and at various campgrounds during their life. To advance their fly fishing adventures, Bill became a rafting expert which led to many whitewater rafting trips on the Kern River. So, Marie bravely accompanied him through many Class 5 waters and hosting lots of Newbury Park friends at the campground. They loved camping at Ward Lake below Edison Lake as well as Huntington Lake. Marie and Bill loved camping and fly fishing and found a second home and family of cherished friends in Ennis, Montana where they would spent several months every year. Her joy was taking friends to visit Yellowstone and Glacier National Park as well as the Brewery Follies in Virginia City. Their life was full of a large group of long-time and loyal friends as well as new friends they made in every place they lived. The Coaches, the river rafters, Ennis, and her Ya Ya's. Marie cherished her family most of which is in Maryland and her childhood friends Charlotte and Leona. Her father Joe lived with Bill and Marie after her Mom passed and so they had a wonderful time enjoying traveling together in their fifth wheel. And no mention of family would not be complete without the list of loyal dogs that Bill and Marie adopted and dearly loved, Groucho, Luke, Brandee and Ginger. Marie would dive wholeheartedly into whatever captured her interest. In addition to being a dog lover, Master Gardener and propagating plants in her greenhouse to share, she was always trying new recipes, exercise classes, and finding fun things to explore that she could share with friends and family. She is survived by her beloved brother Joseph Smith and his Spouse Christine Smith, dear brother in law, Charlie Loretta, her dog Ginger, her stepchildren Steve Loretta, Gloria Loretta Marshall, daughter of her heart, Susan Plummer, and their Spouses, her grandchildren Cheyenne Marshall, Samantha Loretta, Conner Marshall, Alora Chua, Jared Driver and nephew Duncan Smith and Niece Rebecca Smith Hunter. One of the special joys Marie had near the end of her life was meeting her natural daughter, Diane Young and husband Abe Young. It was an especially poignant event and they continued to remain in touch after that point as Marie had planned on visiting and meeting Diane's own beautiful family in Utah on an RV trip she had planned to go back East. Her ashes will be laid to rest at Fork Christian Church in Maryland. A celebration of her life will be held at the Amador Flower Farm on June 1st at 2pm. Remembrances may be made to: Foothill Garden Club, Master Gardeners of Amador County, PAWS, or any non-profit directed towards Animal Rescue, Wildlife or Natural Preservation. Services Celebration of Life 1 Jun 02:00 PM Amador Flower Farm 22001 Shenandoah School Rd Plymouth, CA 95669