Gayle Frances Stickels' Obituary
Gayle Francis StickelsApril 15, 1943- November 9, 2019 Gayle Francis Stickels departed this life on Saturday, November 9, 2019 at Washington Hospital Fremont, California.Gayle was 76 years old and actively living in her own home until the end just the way she wanted! Fiercely independent and stubborn, my mother Gayle Stickels lived and loved on her own terms.Born in 1943 in Oakland California, Gayle finished High School and immediately married Lou Maselli in 1961. She had two boys, Len (1963) and Greg (1966) and was a stay-at-home mom in the early years. Gayle later worked at Montgomery Wards, then shifted to manage King Norman’s toy store at the Fremont Hub. Later she moved to Del Monte and finally to Acosta as a reset merchandiser until her retirement. She enjoyed making friends with many of the managers and sales staff at the various grocery stores she serviced.Mom read books voraciously! She loved murder mysteries and enjoyed going to thrift stores to buy many of her favorite authors like James Patterson. When she finished her books, she then would donate all the books back on her next trip.If you came to her house, the TV was on 24 hours a day! She watched and loved sports later in life and could tell me or anyone who would listen about the goings on of college football, the NFL, NBA, and Major League baseball. She was most passionate about NASCAR and her favorite driver of all time, Jeff Gordon.Mom loved collecting antiques since the early 1970’s. As kids, we grew up immersed in flea markets, garage sales and thrift stores. As a young boy I thought it was boring; however, this experience gave me an appreciation for the past and finding value in somebody’s discards hence the old saying, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure!This love of collecting made for a home filled with vintage furniture, dolls, plates, and other knick- knacks. I always told mom she had enough in her small home to furnish five other homes!She was a homebody of sorts and echoed the words’ of Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, “there’s no place like home!” Mom enjoyed keeping her home in top shape and made whatever investment was needed to keep it painted and maintained. Avocados and mandarin oranges were my favorite part of her beautiful yard.Mom showed her deep love for us all through thoughtful gifts and cards. She would pick the most fitting card for her friends and family. Hallmark will miss her and so will we.She lost a part of herself with the passing of her youngest son, Greg Maselli on December 31, 2016. Greg’s bride, Shelly stayed close to her side these last years to share in mutual encouragement.Though my mother was not a religious person, she had a few Scriptures in her house. One that caught my attention on my last visit seems fitting as we think about life and death:Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NLT)1 For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.The next verse says it all:2 A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest.Gayle is survived by her oldest son, Leonard (Debbie) Maselli of Fairfield, Iowa; Daughter-in-love, Shelly Maselli of San Jose, California and granddaughter, Alexandrea Maselli of Roseville, California, Grandsons Lucas and Solomon of Fairfield, Iowa; Keegan of Denver Colorado; and niece, Virginia Strouse (Joyce Roberts) of Braidwood Illinois.Gayle was preceded in death by her second husband Chuck Stickels, son Greg Maselli, sister Joyce Roberts; and parents Harold and Virginia Swanson.Arrangements are pending with a private memorial to be scheduled at a later date.
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