Obituary of Amanda Brice

Services will be on Sunday in Santa Cruz for Amanda Marie Brice who passed away peacefully in her sleep at her Santa Cruz home on October 7, 2013. Words cannot express the deep sadness felt by her family at the loss of the family's matriarch. She excelled and was loved dearly in all her roles as wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, friend and ally. Amanda was an extremely strong woman of impeccable character and will be deeply missed by all who loved her. Born in Germany in 1926, Amanda was 87 years old at her time of passing. At an early age, before the war she learned the trade of being a seamstress before eventually moving to America in 1958. After settling in Santa Cruz, she founded, owned and operated Whitlock's Dress Shop on Mission Street for 15 years which she was forced to close after an aneurysm nearly took her life in 1971. Just prior to her near brush with death, she bought her second house in University Terrace from the man who would soon be her husband and it was there that her new family was born and has been centered ever since. An active member of the community and along with her late husband, William (Bill) Brice, Amanda volunteered her time in the Senior Citizen's Organization on Market Street helping him while he served two terms as their president and also working many years as a "counter person" at the Senior's Center's Sunday breakfasts. For their service they were both honored for their care and dedication. Amanda religiously attended and supported the activities of the Christian Life Center on Mission Street and one of her last contributions was making twenty dresses by hand for victims of the Haitian earthquake. She especially enjoyed the music that the church offers on Sundays and in fact loved music of all kinds, especially classic country music. Her favorite star was Johnny Cash and even would attend his concerts back in his day. Her hobbies included sewing, gardening, reading and as all who knew her would attest, cooking. She cooked many special dishes for friends and would even take them to their house. Her cheesecake recipe, though long sought, will still and forever remain secret. She was preceded in death by her husband Bill in 2004, and is survived by her grandson Michael William Brice (age 13) whom she called her sunshine, her daughter Linda Lou Brice, son James William Brice , God- Daughter, Brigitte Santos, brother Kurt Klein, and her niece Birgit Mueller, as well as her two sons Stefan and Martin. A Christian Blessing Ceremony will be on Sunday, October 13, 2013 at 3 p.m. at Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel. Friends may pay their respects at the chapel until 6 p.m. Sunday evening. She will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband Bill on Tuesday, October 15, 2013 at Holy Cross Cemetery (2271 7th Ave. Santa Cruz, CA.) beginning at 10:00 am. Flowers are appreciated or, any kind acts of charity may be made in Amanda's name to Wounded Warrior Project.