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70 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | JULY 2024 Farewell to Friends Jeannine Marie Lutz 1937-2024. Jeannine Lutz, a former resident of Redlands, passed away peacefully at her home on May 1, surrounded by family and friends. Jeannine was born in Flint, MI to Veda Belle and William Henry Hill, the second of six children. Growing up in Flushing, Michigan, she became the first in her family to attend college, studying nursing at the University of Michigan. She excelled academically and, between scholarships and working a variety of jobs, she was able to pay her own way. One year after graduation, while working as head nurse at the University of Michigan hospital, she met Jim Lutz, a senior medical student who contrived to get invited to a party she and her roommate were throwing and he won her heart. They were married the day after Jim's graduation from medical school in 1960 and two years later they welcomed their first child, daughter Terry. No fan of sleet and snow, Jeannine dreamed of moving to a warmer climate. But she would have to be patient. Jim would complete an internship and residency, followed by three years in Panama after being drafted into the Air Force to serve as a doctor in the Panama Canal Zone. Son Jim and daughter Donna would be born there. Next, they moved back to Detroit where Jeannine was the head nurse at Grace Hospital, she taught nursing and was responsible for adapting the curriculum from a three-year program to two years. Finally, after Jim completed his specialty training, Jeannine got her wish and they moved to Rialto, CA, where their fourth child, Steve, was born. Shortly afterwards they moved to Redlands to settle. Jeannine stayed busy, raising four kids and living there for over three decades. Jeannine was an active volunteer, serving as president of the PTA and working for many years with the Women's Medical Auxiliary to the San Bernardino County Medical Society, where she served as Treasurer and President. Much of her time and energy was devoted to chauffeuring the kids back and forth to the Vera Lynn School of Dance, where for several years they all took classes. In order to outfit them in beautiful costumes for recitals, she became an expert seamstress, although she confessed to never enjoying sewing. For that matter, she didn't particularly like baking pies at Thanksgiving, but she made delicious pie crust from scratch and the best pumpkin chiffon pie known to man. In other words, she was a devoted and loving mother who put her family before herself without complaint. Jeannine was a night owl who loved to sleep in and read the newspaper cover to cover in bed. She was a lifelong, voracious reader with a stellar vocabulary. Woe to anyone who faced her in a game of Balderdash. Her happy place was floating in any body of water with a rum and Coke. Sailing with her husband and family on their sailboat, the Knot a Clew, was pure joy, particularly their trips to Catalina Island. Despite suffering from osteoarthritis for years, she enjoyed taking long hikes on family vacations in the national parks. She could handle driving a huge van with trailer attached like it was nothing, but had a terrible sense of direction. She had a terrific, dry sense of humor and was a wonderful friend, accepting everyone she met without judgment. Despite their being a huge disappointment, she loved her Los Angeles Angels without reservation. An excellent hostess, she always had your favorite drink and the best snack stash at the ready. After her husband passed away, Jeannine moved to Four Seasons where she lived independently until her death. These were some of the happiest years of her life, making so many friends, playing fierce games of Canasta, water aerobics with her group, the Water Babes, and traveling to friends' vacation homes. The family would like to thank these loving, loyal friends who nursed her tirelessly in her final months, particularly Donna and Floyd Gilbreth who worked minor miracles within the medical community on her behalf. A shout out as well to Gail Harker, Georgia Coleman, Yolanda Stolarz and so many others. We are forever in your debt. Jeannine was preceded in death by her husband Jim Lutz, her daughter Terry Rollins, sisters Noreen Parker and Peggy Flake and brother Bill Hill. She is survived by her children, Donna Christian (Steve), Steve Lutz (Angie), Jim Lutz (Jennifer), son-in-law, Dave Rollins, her grandchildren Lucas Christian, Rex Christian, Carina Lutz, Callan Lutz, Heather Bonnett (Alex), Jamie Lutz (Edris Moses), and sisters Jerry Nix and Janet Southern. She was a proud great- grandmother to Camille Bonnett and Luna Moses. The family will be holding a private service on Catalina Island, where deceased husband Jim and daughter Terry await her. Lynette Marie Smilac lived a life larger than her diminutive stature. She was born premature on July 19, 1954, and the treatment for preemies at the time damaged her vision, her hearing, and her respiratory system; but none of that ever held her back. Lynette walked at a furious pace, danced like no one was watching, and loved with a heart that never feared consequence. If she had something to give, she gave it; something to say, she said it. And woe to the inferior soul who dared to suggest there was anything she could not do. Lynette's heart for service was evident in her devout Catholicism and her chosen career as a special education teacher. She gave freely of her time to her students and her parish, making many friends along the way. A life-long dog lover, world traveler, and notoriously-competitive card player, Lynette was famous among her family for her travel- themed holiday gifts and her excessive use of scotch tape while wrapping presents. She was also extremely ticklish. Seriously. One just had to act like one was going to tickle her and she would start laughing hysterically. She always wanted to go, do, and to share what she loved with the people who she loved. Lynette was a caring friend, a loving sister, a dutiful daughter, and the best Auntie a child could ever have. Everyone who knew her loved her and will miss her terribly. If you were unable to attend her memorial and would like to honor her love and care of animals, please make a donation to Best Friends Animal Society at https://bestfriends.org/donate.