Obituary of Miriam Skellenger Pudan

August 26, 1916 – December 23, 2017 90 Year Resident of San Mateo Miriam Pudan passed away on Saturday, December 23rd at the age of 101. Born to Herbert Frank Skellenger and Ethel Baldwin Skellenger, she was raised in San Bruno and worked as a librarian for more than 30 years in the San Mateo Public Library System. Miriam leaves a legacy of loving goodwill. Her spirit of volunteerism will forever be cherished by those who came to know her. She was a devoted member of Transfiguration Episcopal Church in San Mateo, and upon moving to Santa Cruz, attended St. John's the Baptist Episcopal Church in Aptos. She was actively involved in her son and daughter's education and after-school activities, working as a Cub Scout and Girl Scout troop leader. Miriam was a voracious reader and encouraged young people's reading skills by volunteering as a teacher's aide for 5th grade reading classes at her son's elementary school. She was a lifetime member of the Order of the Eastern Star and worked as a volunteer at Mills Memorial Hospital in San Mateo. Miriam's attention to detail will fondly be remembered. The sheets and pillow cases that were ironed, as well as all garments that she also neatly pressed, are cherished memories for her loved ones. She was very accomplished at sewing, and created beautiful baby clothes, bibs, and blankets for her loving family and friends. Miriam treasured the many friendships that were made as a resident of Dominican Oaks in Santa Cruz for the past 11 years. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Margaret and Jeff Buzek of Tucson, AZ; her son, Andrew Pudan and son-in-law, Christopher DiMaio, MD, of Aptos, along with loving friend, Tom Bukowski, and niece Kris Raatz, and a host of nieces, nephews, and extended family members. She was preceded in death by her husband Thomas V. Pudan in 1989, and her brother and sister, Alan Skellenger and Barbara Marr. A celebration of her life will be held at Dominican Oaks in the Oaks Room on Saturday, January 27th at 1:30 p.m. She was laid to rest in a private ceremony beside her late husband, Thomas, at Skylawn Memorial Park in San Mateo. Any kind acts of charity can be made in her memory to your local Humane Society, as Miriam loved her cats.