Obituary of Melba L. Corona

On October 12th, 2016, Melba Louise Harrison Corona went to join her beloved husband of over 65 years, Tony and her loving son, Dale Corona who passed away in 1982, after a long and wonderful life. She passed peacefully surrounded by her wonderful care givers; Lou, Kay, Kim and Thea, who took the greatest care of her that a person could wish for. Melba was the fifth of nine children. She was born on March 27th, 1913 to Wesley and Ethel Harrison. Although she was born in Arkansas, she was raised and schooled in Oklahoma and graduated from nursing school with a Registered Nurse degree in 1935. Shortly after graduation, she and another nurse friend headed to California where they both had jobs waiting for them in Monterey. This was where she met and married the love of her life, Tony Corona. Tony was a Native American from San Juan Bautista who owned a meat market in Monterey. What a pair, “The Indian & the Okie”. After the war, Tony and Melba moved with their two children, due to health reasons of the children, to Los Gatos, California. When the children were old enough to go to school, Melba resumed her nursing career working in a doctor’s office. She later worked as a head nurse and supervisor for Henards Convalescent Hospital and afterwards for Spotswoods Sanitarium, both in Los Gatos. Melba retired from nursing in 1957 in order to help Tony in the meat market he had opened after the move to Los Gatos. Tony decided to retire in 1965 after having been in the butcher business for well over 50 years. After his retirement, Tony got bored so he and Melba decided to lease a grocery store in Scotts Valley. So after renting out the Los Gatos home that they had built in 1947, off they went to Scotts Valley. After their lease was up in 5 years, they moved back to Los Gatos for a short time. They then decided to sell their home and move to Hollister where their daughter and her family had been living in 1966. This would be the final move. Tony was quite happy being retired but Melba, being 10 years younger than Tony, figured she still had a few more years to do, so she went to work wrapping meat for Anthony Vallejo at his San Benito Street business, “The Deli”. After that, she worked as a volunteer for the Old Southside Convalescent Home and at the Hazel Hawkins Hospital Thrift Shop until 2008. Having outlived all of her and Tony’s siblings and most of their friends, Melba would refer to herself as being “the last leaf on the tree”. Mrs. Corona is survived by her loving daughter Barbara Corona of Hollister; loving grandchildren Caryn Paidl (Michael-deceased) of Hollister, Cheryl Larios (Tom) of Marysville, Mark Cirelli (Kim) of Hollister, Steve Corona (Sheri) of Scotts Valley, Suzzane Corona of Los Angeles; great grandchildren Tracy Paidl (Toby Lavender) of Royal Oaks, Megan Cirelli Dequin (Benji) of Hollister, Tony Larios (Theresa) of Smartsville, Brandon Cirelli of Hollister, Austin and Alexia Corona of Scotts Valley; great-great grandchildren Taryn Lavender, Jake Larios, Johnathan Dequin, Timmy Dequin, Charlotte Dequin and Harlee Cirelli. Melba is also survived by several nieces and nephews: Charlie Higuera and family of Pacific Grove and also loving daughter-in-law Rosalie (Corona) Hallinan and her husband Larry of Los Gatos. The family would especially like to thank her wonderful caregivers who loved her dearly and cared for her like she was family: Lou Ballard, daughter Kae Jimenez and Lou’s two daughters Kim and Althea Jimenez. Although Lou and Kae were the principal caregivers, they ALL cared for her for 4 years and 9 months. Melba’s family will forever be grateful to “the girls” for the superb job that they did. Interment will be Saturday, October 22nd, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at San Juan Bautista District Cemetery. Following the interment, a Celebration of Life will be held and the residence of Caryn Paidl, 2905 Carey Way, Hollister.