Obituaries for June 28, 2015

Obituaries for June 28, 2015

Betty D’Allessandro O’Keefe

Betty D’Allessandro O’Keefe was given the gift of life from her parents, Arthur D’Allessandro and Virginia Medeiros D’Allessandro. Her journey began on July 8, 1948, on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. On June 1, 2015, Betty received her angel wings. She was happily married to Gene O’Keefe for 42 years. They are soul mates.

Together they were blessed with a beautiful family that created her precious grandchildren; son, Peter O’Keefe and Margie Altiok and their children, Virginia and Grace O’Keefe; son, Jason O’Keefe and his children, Ruby and Ella O’Keefe. Her greatest joy was when her family gathered. She loved them deeply. Betty was a dynamic sister to 12 siblings. She was overjoyed to reunite with her cousin, Stella Mission, husband Francis and their wonderful children and grandchildren in Kauai. Betty visited them often. She was a grounded-in-law to many and an inspiring aunt to many more. Betty was a strong warrior.

She was courageous, decisive and determined. Betty authentically lived life on her terms. She invigorated the American dream at Betty’s A1A Café with her bountiful energy. She moved mountains, defied the odds and lived fiercely. She had unwavering faith and shined brightly. She laughed contagiously with delight. Betty loved with the extraordinary beauty of the simple human heart. There is no love like her love. We can get lost in the pain of our heartbreak or we can do Betty a favor: Live knowing it is a privilege to have another day. May her beautiful smile be forever etched in your memory and may you use it to be the sunshine in the life of another. In lieu of flowers please engage in an unexpected act of kindness in Betty’s honor. Aloha, my precious love, enjoy the many who have gone before you, and save us a seat. Join us for a Celebration of Life on July 8, 2015, beginning with a Mass at St. Brendan’s Catholic Church at 11 a.m.

Condolences may be shared with the family at www.lohmanfuneralhomes.com

Jeffrey Michael Hayes

Jeffrey Michael Hayes died June 9, 2015, following a near drowning after a fall at his home near Austin, TX on June 1, 2015. Jeff was born in Los Angeles, CA on Aug. 12, 1965. His mother is Phyllis (Philomena) Zillo Rowlands of Lakeway, TX and his father the late Donald Robert Hayes of East Rockaway, NY. His husband of the past 24 years is Greg Sovey of Lakeway, TX. Jeff attended Loyola High School in Los Angeles, graduating in 1983. He attended Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, where he graduated with honors in 1996. Jeff was an Eagle Scout and was proud of his Italian-American upbringing. For almost 30 years Jeff was owner and operator of Habitat Hanalei Interiors, Inc., an interior design firm. He earned much recognition during his career for his designs including his extraordinary assemblage glass artwork, Il Vetro Illuminare. Jeff met his soul mate, Greg, at St. Monica Catholic Church in Santa Monica, CA in 1991. Together they had a wonderful life built on love, laughter, trust and mutual respect. Since 1991, they have resided in Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Princeville- Kauai and Lakeway.

Jeff lived life out loud. He loved animals most especially the dogs, and cats he shared his life with. He was an excellent cook who never followed a recipe and always prepared enough for a small army. He loved to fish and loved nature. To say he was creative would be a gross understatement. He had a passion to repurpose found objects and was on a never ending search for a diamond in the rough. He knew his strengths and admitted his faults. Prefacing the following with “extraordinarily,” Jeff was: articulate, bold, candid, clever, courageous, devoted, dynamic, eyelash endowed, fearless, forgiving, generous, genuine, gifted, hilarious, hopeful, honest, impressive, industrious, intelligent, intuitive, loyal, mischievous, observant, original, protective, quick-witted, reflective, resilient, resourceful, sensitive, sincere, spiritual, street smart, tenacious, uncompromising and wise. Jeff could also at times be careless, exhausted, headstrong, impatient, impulsive, inaccessible, intense, moody, opinionated, outrageous, stubborn and uninhibited. Like all of us he was a complex human being but he loved and lived with unusual fullness and fury. He lived uncontrived.

Jeff will be achingly missed by all who knew and loved him but most especially by his husband Greg, mother Philomena, Aunt Jude and Uncle Bob Golden and Cousins Joya (Kyle) Chrystal and Jamie Golden of California and many dear friends, most especially those he lovingly called “Blanche.”

A celebration of his life will be held on Aug. 8, 2015, at The Hills of Lakeway Country Club, The Hills, TX at 5 p.m. Father Bruce Lery, S.M. will officiate a memorial service and an evening of great food, drink and storytelling will follow. Contact gregsovey@gmail.com for details. In lieu of flowers, donations to www.beardedcollieclub.us/rescue and www.austinpetsalive.org in Jeff’s name would be accepted with gratitude.

Arrangements by Weed-Corley-Fish Lake Travis (512) 263-1511. Obituary and memorial guestbook available online at www.wcfish.com