This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Kertz, Johnson, Evans, MacKenzie, Evans, Lahym Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/UW.2ADI/2009 Message Board Post: Diane Marie Lahym Kertz Diane Marie Lahym Kertz had deep roots on the Coastside with family going back several generations. She was raised on the Coastside and left for a few years following her first marriage, but came back. A single mother at the time, she chose the Coastside as the place to raise her three children. Ms. Kertz died Nov. 6 at her daughter's home in San Ramon, at age 68, following a lengthy illness. "She was just the strongest woman I ever met," said her son, Gerald Johnson of Castro Valley. "I so admire her raising three children and bringing us back to the coast. Just the fondest memories of being raised here." Ms. Kertz was born July 11, 1936, in San Francisco, but was raised on the Coastside. She attended local schools and graduated early at age 16, from Half Moon Bay High School. From there she went on to the College of San Mateo, from which she also graduated early - at 18 - with a business degree. "She was intelligent, and very strong," said her son. Upon her first marriage, she relocated to San Francisco, but came back to the Coastside in 1975 and stayed. Ms. Kertz worked in bookkeeping in San Francisco for more than 40 years. Much of that work was for construction companies based in the city. Recently, after she took early retirement, she worked for H&R Block in Half Moon Bay, also in bookkeeping, for a few years. For more than 50 years she was a member of the Native Daughters of the Golden West, of Vista Del Mar Parlor No. 155, where she also served as state president for Past Presidents' Association No. 26. She was also a member of the Spanishtown Historical Society. Ms. Kertz loved quilting, and quilted for the majority of her life, her son said. She was a member of Peninsula Quilters and the Sew 'N' Sews, and on the Coastside, of the Piecemakers by the Sea. "She was always quilting," said her son, adding that over the years she frequently entered her quilts in the San Mateo County Fair, from which "she was always bringing home ribbons." Ms. Kertz is survived by her children Antone C. Johnson of Renton, Wash., Gerald E. Johnson of Castro Valley and Julia E. Evans of San Ramon, and grandchildren MacKenzie Johnson and Alyssa and Bradley Evans. She is also survived by a brother, Eugene D. Lahym, of Half Moon Bay. Ms. Kertz had requested to be cremated. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 20, at Sneider & Sullivan Funeral Home at 977 S. El Camino Real in San Mateo, followed by a reception at 1239 Moonsail in Foster City. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the American Lung Association at 2171 Junipero Serra Blvd., No. 720, Daly City, CA 94014, or to the Native Daughters of the Golden West Nursing Scholarship Fund at 543 Baker St., San Francisco, CA 94117. Please send acknowledgements to Julia Evans, 3242 Veracruz Dr., Ran Ramon, CA 94583. Wednesday, November 24, 2004 Half Moon Bay Review and Pescadero Pebble