Cheryl Ann Heino passed away on February 6th at the age of 67. She died peacefully in her sleep after a five-year-long battle with cancer.

Cheryl and her family moved to Santa Cruz from Rhode Island when she was ten years old. She met her future husband—Scotts Valley resident, Jim Heino—when they were in their teens and they spent many happy years camping and adventuring together. They built their forever home in the Santa Cruz Mountains in the 1980’s and Cheryl later gave birth to their two children in the 1990’s. After Jim’s untimely death in 2001, Cheryl worked tirelessly to provide for her children. Jim was the love of her life, and she never dated or remarried after his passing.

Cheryl worked locally as a bookkeeper in the automotive industry for over 45 years. She enjoyed reading (especially murder-mystery novels), theme parks, board games, rock music, and spending time with her children. Friends and family described Cheryl as being incredibly strong, intelligent, independent, and at times stubborn, but also very supportive and caring. Cheryl brought levity, humor, and sass to every situation and she will be sorely missed.

Cheryl was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Heino, her parents, Esther and Louis Cardarelli, her in-laws, Aune and Raymond Heino, and her brothers-in-law, Michael and William Heino. She is survived by her two children, Hayley and John Heino, her nephew Cody Cardarelli, her sister Diane O’Brien, her brothers James and Stephen Cardarelli, and her sisters-in-law Kathy and Heidi Heino.