Obituary of Betty Inez Hagstrom

A very special person left us on December 30th. Betty Inez (Holm) Hagstrom passed away, leaving an empty space in the lives of family, friends, and people she had touched. Betty was born in San Francisco on April 2, 1925 in the elevator of the hospital. She grew up with her parents, Moroni and Blanche Holm in Oakland, California in an active family of seven children. She had fond memories of those early days with her brothers and sisters. She continued to share stories about them throughout her life, particularly those about hiking and camping in Yosemite and watching the "firefall" that cascaded over Glacier Point each night. Betty met her husband, Bob Hagstrom, in Yosemite when he was on weekend leave during World War II. She was on her way to the top of Half Dome and "he wanted to know the time." He called her soon after and time did pass, leading to their marriage in November 1945. They headed to Boston on their honeymoon by train, surviving the "hoots" and "whistles" of everyone on board. They returned to California in 1948 for the birth of Jarilyn, their first daughter, on Betty's birthday. They moved to San Jose in 1950 where Bob was a manager of the General Electric motor plant. Their second daughter, Susan, arrived in 1952. Betty was a homemaker in every sense. She loved her home, neighbors, children and animals and would exhibit her smiling, positive nature with little acts of kindness and humor. She had an eye for decorating and was known for her delicious potato salad and Swedish meatballs. When returning from trips abroad or anywhere in the area they would detail the food they had enjoyed. While living in San Jose they made many life-long friends, but in 1971 they set out on a new adventure and moved to Aptos, California where they lived the rest of their lives in the home they loved. Betty was a supportive and enthusiastic partner as Bob pursued a second career in real estate with Kendall, Potter and Mann. Through the years Betty and Bob enjoyed many trips together, and she researched their family genealogy in Denmark and Sweden. On one trip with her daughters and their husbands they returned to Bob's father's family residence in Sweden and connected with relatives who later visited them in the U.S. They attended the Congregational Church of Soquel and for the last two years Betty was able to enjoy luncheon outings each week with Cindy's Celebrations. We are so thankful for the joy they shared with her. Betty is survived by her two daughters, Jarilyn Jennison of Walnut Creek and Susan Schwartz of Santa Cruz; her son-in-laws, Marco Jennison and Howard Schwartz; her grandchildren, Richard Cerruti, Greta Hansen, and Cecilia Criste and their spouses, Pamela Cerruti, and Juan Carlos Montoy, and Steven Criste; her six great-grandchildren, Jenna Cerruti, Johnny Cerruti, Lucianna Hansen-Montoy, Camila Hansen-Montoy, Reed Criste, and Daniela Hansen-Montoy; and by many other extended family members and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Betty's name to the Yosemite Conservancy Fund, 101 Montgomery St., Suite 1700, San Francisco, CA 94104. A memorial service for family and friends will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2017 at 11 AM at the Santa Cruz Memorial - Mission Chapel at 1927 Ocean Street Ext., Santa Cruz, CA 95060. Entombment services for the family will be private.