Naomi Charlene DeForge
May 4, 1941 to April 9, 2015
Naomi Charlene DeForge, 73, known by her loved ones as “Charlene,” passed away at her Scotts Valley home on Thursday, April 9, following a battle with cancer.
Charlene was born on May 4, 1941 in Council Bluffs, Iowa and graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in 1958.
She worked as a waitress in Des Moines and Las Vegas before meeting her husband and moving to California in 1965. After raising her children she worked in Scotts Valley as a manager at Village Pharmacy for more than 20 years, and later as a medical receptionist at PAMF Scotts Valley for 10 years.
Charlene is survived by her daughter, Dana DeForge-Skrabak of Santa Cruz; son, Rocky DeForge of Ben Lomond; sisters, Catherine Fauser of Waterloo and Alice Stanek of Oelwein; stepdaughters, Linda Slusher of Galt and Robin Favela of Nashville; 10 granddaughters and two grandsons; as well as her beloved sons and daughter in-laws, several great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, cousins, and very dear friends.
She is predeceased by her husband, Robert DeForge, Jr.; daughter, Patty Russell; parents, Charles Russell and Leona McCallum; brother, James Fisher; and stepdaughter, Sharon Strickland.
Charlene, or “Mama Char” as she became known to the extended family that she took under her wing, treasured her family and friends above all else. She will be greatly missed by all whose lives she touched with her silly sense of humor and unconditional love.
Friends and relatives are invited to a celebration of her life on Saturday, May 2 from noon to 3 p.m. at Siltanen Park in Scotts Valley. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in her name to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
If you would like to send your condolences to Charlene’s family, or share a memory or photo, please visit www.scmemorial.com
