Jo Ann's Friends: August 2018

I was so sad to learn last week that Silvia Correa Mehl was tragically killed on Tuesday morning 7/31/18 when she was hit by a semi dirt hauling truck while walking in her neighborhood in Trabuco Canyon, California. Her husband Richard wrote that she was in the crosswalk, but the truck driver said he did not see her until after he ran her over.

Richard and Silvia Mehl had a huge impact on my life and have always held a special place in my heart. When I first moved in with my Grandma Fannie in Long Beach, California, in 1978, Richard made me feel so welcome and he made it possible for me to indirectly meet my husband to be, Dan Farris. He owned The Atherton House, and was one of our housemates during our early years of marriage.

I saw Richard and Silvia fall in love.

In those days, Richard shared his ups and downs with us, his housemates, and I remember the day he announced that he and Silvia were engaged! (Richard's father died suddenly of a heart attack on July 4, 1979. Richard was a "thinker" and I remember him saying that if his father was alive, he may have not been able to marry Silvia because she was of Mexican American descent.)

In those days, Silvia started and lived in a house called The Harvard House, a house that a bunch of girls shared. The Atherton House and Harvard House were named after the streets they were on, Atherton and Harvard, and were like "brother and sister houses" but the Harvard House was a way less crazy place than the Atherton House. My best friend and lifelong friend Marion lived at the Harvard House and my niece Timaree lived there for a short time too.

Silvia was sort of the leader of the Harvard House like Richard was the leader at The Atherton House. In fact, Richard and Silvia were the center of what made both houses such unified and wonderful places. They both were natural leaders that people gravitated towards.

One night I remember going to the movies with my husband and Richard and Silvia and how honored I felt that they took the time to be with us.

Richard was a planner. He planned everything he did, and I even remember overhearing Richard and Silvia planning their lives together shortly after they got engaged!

I've been thinking that their retirement must have had been planned with wonderful things. Silvia had just retired after 30 years of being a 2nd grade teacher and I know she must have been a wonderful teacher. I'm sad that Richard and Silvia's retirement plans together will not happen.

I remember Richard and Silvia's wedding. (Richard says that Silvia died just before their 37th anniversary.) Their wedding was wonderful. My Grandma Fannie enjoyed that wedding and whispered loudly to me as each of the bridesmaids came down the aisle and I remember how beautiful a bride Silvia was. I cry at every wedding I go to, so of course I cried at Richard and Silvia's wedding. And...I remember Richard and Silvia having a garage sale where they sold some of their wedding presents in front of the Atherton House!

Receiving holiday letters from Richard and Silvia was always a highlight. They both always took the time to sign each holiday card with a personal message.

I remember when Richard and Silvia's children were young. We saw their children grow through those holiday letters.

At Silvia's baby shower, I remember there being other expectant mothers there who were close friends of Silvia's and I actually remember one of Silvia's friends (I think it was Lorelei, but it could have been Karen) mentioning that she had thought about that the children in their wombs might be present at their funerals. I have thought about that statement in the past week, since yes, Silvia's daughter Naomi just sent out an announcement about her mother's memorial service which will be on August 18, 2018. Yes...Naomi, the baby in Silvia's womb at that baby shower will be at her funeral...

I remember Silvia mentioning that every time she watched figure skating at the Olympics that she thought of me! I can see her smile as she told me that.

Even though we did not see Richard and Silvia face to face during all these years, the two of them held a special place in our hearts and were a part of us.

Anyway, it's hard to picture Richard without Silvia and I'm so, so sad she is gone.

We have been in touch for about 40 years. My heart is breaking.

Richard and Silvia On Piano Bench Right Above Me At the Atherton House Reunion in 1982

This is the intersection where Silvia was killed. The truck driver was stopped at the stop sign and at the crosswalk and said he looked right but then waited for a white truck to make a left turn from the other crosswalk in front of him then another car that was in the other crosswalk went forward, and then the driver said he looked straight ahead and thought it was okay to go and didn't see Silvia in the crosswalk in front of him and drove right into her as he was making a left turn...the truck's trailer was low and crushed her. She died on the scene. It was about 8:05 am on Tuesday, July 31, 2018.

A man came to the scene right away after hearing a scream and checked her pulse.

Richard had been searching for Silvia all morning and at 10:30 am he saw the police at the intersection where the accident occurred and tried to find out if the woman hit by the truck was Silvia. He was not given any information, but later the coroner called Richard and confirmed that the accident's fatality was Silvia.

Jo Ann's Friends

Monday, August 6, 2018

I Am So Sad About Silvia Mehl's Tragic Death

FURTHER READING:

Sunday, August 5, 2018

My Friend Ellen Mentions That I Climbed Mt. Fuji!

FURTHER READING: