Obituary of Noreen Collins Santaluce

It is with great sadness that the family of Noreen Santaluce announces her passing on Tuesday, October 11, 2016, at the age of 95 years. Noreen will long be remembered by her two children and their families: Lee Ann and Dale Liscombe, Phil and Lori Santaluce; her five grandchildren and four great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Rene, with whom she shared 62 years of marriage and her sister, Bobbie. Noreen was born on September 12, 1921 in Los Angeles, the second of two children to Frank Collins and Anna Stanger Collins. She graduated high school from Pasadena Junior College in 1938. Unable to attend college due to the need to help her family during the Great Depression, she went to work as a dime store clerk. When the United States entered World War II, she became part of the war supported industry and got a job with Vega Aircraft manufacturing airplane parts for the war effort. It was during this time period that Noreen met Rene Santaluce while he was stationed in Los Angeles with the Army Air Corps.They both shared a love for horses and would go horseback riding together through the hills and canyons near Pasadena. In 1945, they were married and moved to Woodside to start a family. In 1958, Rene and Noreen decided the Santa Cruz area would be a better place to raise their kids and purchased a house in Soquel on two acres of land with Redwood trees and a creek. Once her kids were old enough to attend school, Noreen took a library position with the Soquel School Library and later with the Del Mar Junior High Library. During this time, she pursued her dream of a college education by attending Cabrillo College and in 1972 obtained her AA degree in Library Science with honors. Looking for another challenge, she along with a business partner, opened the Nor-Del Deli in the Soquel Village. Outlasting two business partners, she sold the deli as the sole owner after six successful years in the business. She next went into the real estate business by obtaining a real estate licence and worked as an agent for eight years before retiring. In retirement, Rene and Noreen moved to a senior living community in Paso Robles to be located between the homes of their two children. Soon, Noreen was working as a freelance writer and photographer providing articles on the current events of the community to the local newspaper. She also had an article published in the "Pacific Magazine", wrote a screenplay, wrote and directed several stage productions done at her senior living community and was president of the Paso Robles Women's Club. In 1998, Rene and Noreen returned to Santa Cruz County to live in Capitola. She continued her freelance writing for local newspapers often helping non-profit organizations get needed exposure. When Rene passed in 2007, Noreen moved to the La Posada Retirement Community in Santa Cruz. While at La Posada, she interviewed new members and wrote articles about them for the La Posada newsletter. She also, took up drawing and painting; was a member of the writer's club and directed a play. When she turned age 90, she started the "Nineties Club" and organized the monthly meetings at the Mid County Senior Center, which she continued to run until this past summer. A celebration of Noreen's life will be held Saturday, October 22, 1:00 pm at the La Posada Retirement Community, 609 Frederick Street, Santa Cruz.