Larkspur Larkspur lost a kind and gentle soul when Louise Finley passed away peacefully in her sleep at the Windchimes of Marin Memory Care Facility. Louise was born in Chicago, Illinois to Ivin and Magdalena Helen Stoltz (“Helen Wood”) on November 4, 1934. She was the 2nd of 3 girls born to Helen, a German emigrant who fled the Black Forest as a 14-year-old just as the Nazi’s were coming to power. Louise was preceded in death by Helen as well as sisters Genie and Leona. Louise’s mother raised the girls alone while working as a custodian in Chicago and moved them to the Los Angeles area for the favorable climate while they were quite young.
Louise wanted to become a nun when she was young, but her mother refused to condone her wishes (she was 17 at the time) so she went on to double major in microbiology and philosophy at Mount St. Mary’s College in Westwood where she graduated. During her time at Mount St. Mary’s, Louise met the love of her life, Jerry, who was then a student at LA State. They met on a blind date arranged by Jerry’s brother Frank and Louise’s sister Leona (who were dating at the time). Jerry and Louise were married on November 22, 1956 in Los Angeles and their love story lasted an amazing 62 years. In Los Angeles they welcomed their first child in 1958, Marlene, followed two years later with son Patrick, and three years later with a second son, Timothy. While raising the children in Los Angeles, Louise expanded her incredible cooking skills, learning from neighbors including next door neighbor Mary who taught her Italian cooking.
Shortly after Tim’s birth, Jerry and Louise moved the family to Northern California. At first, they lived in Corte Madera near the town park where they welcomed another son, Sean, in May 1965. Shortly after Sean’s birth, the family moved to Ranch Lane in Larkspur. While living there, child #5 came along in Tisa, born in September 1968. After the children were all in school, Louise started to volunteer teach in the Thinking Center at St Patrick’s School and that is where she cultivated a passion that lasted 25 years. She started the science program at the school and inspired many students to turn to the health sciences, natural sciences or academia.
Beyond being an excellent cook for her family, Louise was amazing at knitting and crochet. She would create many scarves, sweaters and hats that her five children and nine grandchildren continue to wear to this day. Louise was also an excellent card player, often frustrating her husband by “slow playing” him at poker and taking his money. Despite her time in Los Angeles, Louise loved the San Francisco Giants, particularly when they shellacked the hated Dodgers. She listened to the Giants on the radio from the first game of Spring Training until the final out of the season, often on a transistor radio while sitting on the porch watching the children play.
Louise loved the sun and the beach. Whether it be on annual summer vacations in Santa Barbara, sojourns to Las Gaviotas (Baja Mexico) or later traveling the globe (Italy, Ireland, Costa Rica and Mexico) with her now adult children. Louise doted on her grandchildren who always drew a smile on her face. Whether it be Kelsy or Katrina (Marlene and Gary), Sawyer or McKenna (Pat and Jennifer), Karim or Jerry (Sean and Mary) or Marcus, Kobe or Damon (Tisa), she was always ready to hear their stories or help them with their studies.
Above all, throughout her life, she was a devout Catholic, drawn to the worship of St. Theresa of Avila in particular. Louise would lead the family in the rosary at night and on the long drives to Southern California where the family vacationed with cousins in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. She loved to get up early to shout, “God bless your day!” to the youngest child of her dear neighbors the Greco’s, Frank, as he made his way to school.
When her time on earth was drawing to an end, she had frequent conversations with God, Mary and Jesus and it gave her great comfort. It is difficult to think we cannot turn our cars down the dead-end road of Ranch Lane and visit her, listening to her talk about a recent bird, flower or animal sighting and render it a teaching moment. After 90 years on this planet, she leaves an amazing legacy behind in her students, children and grandchildren. We should all be so lucky.
The memorial service for Louise Finley will be held on Wednesday, May 21 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Patrick's Church, 114 King Street in Larkspur. A reception will follow immediately afterward at Perry’s. Guests are encouraged to RSVP for the event via email to marlenefinley17@gmail.com. In lieu of flowers, the Finley family asks that you honor Louise by taking a moment to walk with someone dear to you and embrace the beauty of nature.