Obituary of Peggy Yvonne Rudd

Peggy Yvonne Pierce-Rudd, age 64 Peggy passed away in San Jose, California, on March 6, 2024, after a long struggle with Alzheimer's disease and Fronto-Temporal Dementia. Peggy was born in Southern California and spent her elementary school years in San Dimas. When she was in junior high school, the Pierce family moved to Hollister, California. Peggy spent the rest of her life in the general area, calling Hollister, San Juan Bautista, Morgan Hill, and San Jose home. Animals were always a big part of Peggy's life. It wasn't surprising that she would choose a career taking care of them and their environment. She worked for the City of San Jose, Parks and Recreation, for most of her adult life, being responsible for the smooth running of the parks, and looking after the animals at Happy Hollow Park and Zoo. She held many positions while working for the city, working her way up the ladder in roles including Family Park Manager. As Park Facility Supervisor, she handled maintenance operations for 74 parks, and supervised rangers and recreation staff. She also helped organize events, including one that she especially enjoyed: a silent auction that benefited gorillas in Uganda. Art and music played large parts in Peggy's life. Through the 1980s and 1990s she was the lead singer in several bands. In the 2000's Peggy sang with the San Benito Oriana Chorale. Beginning in 2012 she was a founding board member of the All Arts Foundation, which raises money for kids who want to participate in the arts, in any form. Peggy always had cats, and most of them were rescue animals that had been abandoned at one of the parks. Peggy also appreciated a good bottle of wine, educating herself about the different varietals, and sharing her knowledge (and wine) with friends and family. Peggy's parents, Floyd and Mary Jo Pierce, predeceased her. She is survived by her two siblings, Deborah and Les, her aunt, Betty Ferrero, and numerous cousins, including Sandra Gustafson, Nikki Morejon, and Terry Ferrero. A funeral mass will be held at Immaculate Conception Church in Tres Pinos, California, on Friday, April 5 at 10am. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery at 11am, or shortly thereafter. Peggy loved animals, so if you'd prefer to make a donation instead of leaving flowers, choose any charity that looks after the welfare of animals. Peggy will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.