Loretta Jeanne Day

A funeral mass will be celebrated on December 15th in Capitola for Jeanne Day who passed away peacefully at the age of 83. Born Loretta Jeanne Bucher in Denver, Colorado, she met her future husband, Ted Day, while working the switchboard for Regis College. He fell in love with her voice and had to meet her. They shared many fond memories of teenage adventures such as ice-skating with friends in Colorado. Jeanne graduated from Loretto Heights College with a Bachelor's degree in English and married Ted in 1955. Jeanne taught school in Colorado. The couple had two children before moving to California in 1963 to follow Ted's aerospace career. Jeanne was a substitute teacher for a while, but having two more children kept her busy raising her family. She was also active in her church and her children's parochial school. The family made Santa Cruz County their home in 1972. This February marked Ted and Jeanne's 61st wedding anniversary, modeling to their children a life of love and commitment. Ted passed away in July. Ted and Jeanne were lifelong active Catholics with a deep faith they passed on to their children. That faith brings us comfort that Mom is now with Dad, safe and well in God's comforting arms. Jeanne was a strong woman who encouraged independence and strength in her children. One of her favorite times in her life was acting as general contractor on several spec homes. She loved plants and gardening, had a bountiful vegetable garden, and could name all sorts of plants and flowers. She loved to read and instilled that love in her children. She loved music and dancing with her husband. She had a beautiful voice and loved to sing and play the piano. Jeanne was the last of her siblings. She is survived by her four children: son Ted E. Day of Morgan Hill, daughter Jeanne Shay and her husband Mike of San Jose, daughter Kathleen Dorais and her husband Norm of San Carlos, and son Michael Day and his wife Oanh of San Jose. She also leaves her beloved grandchildren: Mario, Teddy, Nicole, Kevin, Keith, Jake, Joseph, and Michelle, and her two great grandchildren: T.J. and Ellie. She will be sorely missed, but we know she'll be watching over us. The mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph's Catholic Church (435 Monterey Ave.) in Capitola on December 15, 2016, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Any kind acts of charity may be made in her memory to St. Joseph's chapter of the Italian Catholic Federation (ICF).