All Tributes

Thomas Peter Zonsius, a longtime resident of Madera passed away August 8, 2022 after an eight-year gallant fight with neuroendocrine cancer. Tom was born in Canada to French Canadian parents and adopted as an infant through Catholic Charities by Peter Bartzen Zonsius and Barbara Schreiner in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from Saint Vincent de Paul High School in 1973 and joined Saint Mary of the Barrens seminary in Perryville, Missouri. After attending for a year, he decided to join the...

David James Sansing, aged 63, passed away on Sunday, August 7, 2022 in Fresno, California. David was born on September 1, 1958 in Gilroy, California. David was a long haul truck driver for 36 years, “the hardest workingman you will ever have met”. He loved baseball, old classic cars, and barbequing with family and friends. Most of all he loved spending time with his daughters and his three grandchildren. Surviving are his three daughters, Samantha Sansing, Darlene Sansing, and...

Robert (Bob) Malcom Ross Jr., age 79 passed away in Madera, California on Friday, August 5, 2022. Bob was born in Stanfordville, New York, and later lived in Montana and Washington before settling in Madera. Bob was a very hard worker and belonged to both the Teamsters Union and Bricklayers Union. He loved sports not only watching but playing softball in the Oakhurst California men’s league, Bob was an avid bowler and was a member of the Men’s PBA and had many 300 games. He...

OBITUARY TO BE FORTHCOMING

Carmen Rodriguez was born March 24, 1922 in Moroleon, Guanajuato, Mexico. She came to America in 1963, and lived in Montclair, CA until 1991. Carmen then moved to Madera and lived here for 31 years until she passed away. She was married 1940 to Rodolfo Rodriguez until he passed away in 1989. She is survived by a brother and a sister in Mexico. Carmen has two surviving children, a daughter in Madera and a son in Kansas. She is also survived by numerous grandchildren and great...

  Ophelia “Orfie” Sciacqua 1936 - 2022 Ophelia “Orfie” was born in Hanford on May 1, 1936.  She was married to Don Sciacqua, her husband of 36 years.  They enjoyed family get togethers, dancing, baseball, and golf before his passing in 1994.  They were also loyal fans to Fresno State football.  In her latter years, she was fortunate to have Gerald Nelson as a companion.  They enjoyed traveling and taking the “scenic...

Margarita Gutierrez, 65, de Madera, California, murió el 26 de julio del 2022 en su residencia. Margarita nació el 21 de julio de 1957 hija de Modesto Cortez y Anita Daza en Santa Cruz de Bravo, Oaxaca.  Vivió en Santa Cruz con su abuela Abelina hasta 1970 cuando conoció a su esposo Victor Gutierrez y se casó. Después tuvieron cuatro hijos: Arturo, Esteban, Juan Pablo, e incluyeron a Omar como parte de su familia. Margarita no solamente fue un...

Floyd Avalos Rios passed away peacefully on July 25, 2022 in Fresno, California. He was born in San Fernando, California on May 23, 1946. Floyd graduated from Madera high school. Upon graduating, he entered the United States Navy, serving on the Carrier USS Enterprise CVN-65 during the Vietnam War. After his military service he continued his studies and received his Bachelor of Science degree from Fresno State University in criminology and corrections. Floyd retired after forty-two years...