In Passing

Eberhard Lambert von Oy

Eberhard Lambert “Bert” von Oy passed away peacefully on the evening of July 10, 2023, at the age of 85.

He was born on April 26, 1938, in Morton, Wash.,to the late Ed and Margaret von Oy. He graduated from Morton High School and attended St. Martin’s college in Olympia, Wash., and the University of Washington in Seattle. In 1961 he was drafted into the United States Army during the Cuban Missile Crisis, serving until 1963.

Bert worked for The Boeing Company for 43 years in the Aerospace Division. He worked on programs such as Jetfoil, Peace Shield, and the E3A AWACS, for which he was recognized as employee of the month in June 1983.

Following his retirement in 2003, Bert and Donna made their home in the PebbleCreek Golf Community in Goodyear, Ariz. Bert loved photography and joined the Photography Club where he spearheaded several photo shoot trips around Arizona. He was active in the Genealogy Club and maintained an interest in researching his family history and ancestry. His research led him to visit several states and locations where his family had lived, including the ”Old Round Church” in Richmond, Vt., where a relative was a founding father. He and Donna traveled extensively to Europe and enjoyed cruising to exotic ports with friends and family. His many travels included visits to his family in Germany; he also enjoyed playing host to their visits in the United States. Bert was proud of reaching his lifetime goal of visiting all 50 states.

Bert loved all things musical. He enjoyed playing the piano and attending the theatre and opera. He and Donna were season ticket holders to the Issaquah Theatre and the Seattle Opera. In 2005, they became inaugural season ticket holders to the Arizona Broadway Theatre.

Bert was an avid gardener. He will be remembered for his love of landscape design and his beautiful yard! He truly was a master gardener and willingly shared his knowledge with friends and neighbors.

He will be missed by everyone who enjoyed his warm friendship, dry sense of humor, and devotion to his family and friends.

Bert is lovingly remembered by his wife of 48 years, Donna; brother Joseph von Oy; sons David (Alice), Gregory, and Jeffrey (Jamie); and his eight grandchildren, Anita, Matheu, Brenden, Shyayn, Riley, Jeramie, Kevin, and Jacob. As well, he is survived by his brothers-in-law Gerry (Hannah) and Steve (Lexine) Cook and sister-in-law Joanne Bell. Bert enjoyed the company and friendship of his extended family members including many nieces, nephews, and cousins, especially Cheryl Hart and Addie Mashkoftseff.

Bert was preceded in death by his son Charles Kristopher von Oy and brother Nick Fields.

The family asks that memorial contributions be made online to The Salvation Army.

Lorraine Provenzale

Lorraine Mary Provenzale (nee Speranza), 74, passed away on July 16, 2023, after a battle with COPD.

She is survived by her husband, Peter, who she met when they were 13 in Brooklyn, N.Y. Their union spanned 61 wonderful years, including seven years going “steady.” She is also survived by her daughter Julie, her sister Barbara Palone and brother-in-law Joe, her grandson Sam Bucci, her son-in-law Jimmy, her brothers-in-law Michael and Leonard, her sister-in-law Lena, and 14 nieces and nephews and their families.

Her son, Peter, preceded her in death as did her brother, George, and sisters-in-law, Rita and Kathy.

Lorraine was born in Brooklyn and worked for several years for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. She also worked for the Somerset, N.J., B of Ed. Lorraine and Peter spent the first part of their years as parents in NYC and moved to New Jersey in 1985. In 2005 they moved to an adult community in Somerset, N.J.

They moved to Arizona in 2020 to be closer to their children in Santa Monica and Colorado. At PebbleCreek (PC), Lorraine loved her ceramics classes and the wonderful people who helped her learn how to create lovely pieces. Our PC neighbors embraced us immediately, and we attended many happy hours and met dozens of nice neighbors.

Lorraine enjoyed pajamas, scary movies, vacuum lines on carpet, her red sports car with ILVJAZZ license plate, and long walks with friends. She loved being with people, treated all as she wanted to be treated, and looked for the best trait in everyone she met.

Lorraine will be remembered at a Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas later this year.

Thea Smith

Althea (Thea) Rautenberg Smith passed away peacefully on Aug. 8, 2023, after a full and joyous life. Born in Elmhurst, Ill., to Ernest and Althea (Kimberly) Rautenberg on Jan. 1, 1932, she was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

She graduated from York High School in Elmhurst, where she met her husband, Earl R. Smith. Thea attended DePauw University and then transferred to the University of Illinois so she could be with Earl. She joined the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and was a lifelong member, as well as being a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society (the nation’s most prestigious academic honor society).

Earl and Thea were married on Nov. 29, 1952, in Elmhurst, Ill., and celebrated their 70th anniversary last year. Earl worked for The Dow Chemical Company, and his job took them to Midland (MI), The Netherlands, Texas, Chile, Brazil, and California. While moving around, Thea was able to be a member of many different groups. She was a P.E.O. Sister for 57 years and was also a member of many other prestigious groups.

She was a lifelong volunteer in schools in order to pass on her love of learning and endowed a scholarship for young women attending college. Thea was a fervent patron of the Arts, but also enjoyed Sports, especially baseball and golf. Thea had an eye for color and was a great interior designer. Later in life, she became an accomplished watercolor painter.

Earl and Thea retired in Arizona, where she played golf, painted, and went to exercise classes (up until the day before her passing). Thea was a breast cancer survivor, an avid reader, and had a strong Christian faith.

Survivors include her beloved husband, Earl, of Goodyear, Ariz.; a son and daughter-in-law, Greg and Beth Smith of South Carolina; and a daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca and Kurt Faust of Michigan. She has five grandchildren: Ashley Smith of Missouri, Christian Smith of South Carolina, Daniel (Chessie) Smith of Kentucky, Alex (Ally) Faust of Michigan, and Andrea (Alex) DeVries of Michigan. In addition, she has three great-grandchildren: Mac and Cam Faust; Evelyn DeVries and her brother due at the end of August.

Details for a Service in memory of Thea will be forthcoming.

Donations in Thea’s memory can be sent to:

P.E.O. Continuing Education

In Honor of Althea Smith

P.E.O. Chapter ET

3025 N. 160th Ave.

Goodyear, AZ 85395