Obituary of Alice Ponza

Alice was the firstborn daughter of Donald Sr. and Alice Santos. Alice was born at the Yellow Bank Dairy Ranch in Davenport. She had a twin sister, Betty McGinnis, and an older brother, Donald Santos Jr. Alice went to Mission Hill School until 1945 when Donald Sr. bought a large dairy ranch in Scotts Valley and the family moved to Scotts Valley. 

Alice went to Santa Cruz High School and graduated in 1953. After high school, Alice did a short stint as a “Pixie” at the famous “Santa’s Village” off Highway 17 in Scotts Valley. Alice moves on to become a secretary at the Santa Cruz District Attorney’s office. Fate intervened at the famous “Barn Dance Hall” in Scotts Valley. Alice met a young Korean War Veteran, Michael James Ponza. Michael was the youngest son of Antonio and Madeline Ponza of Soquel. 

Alice and Michael were married at Holy Cross Church in 1955 after a quick romance. Shortly after they started a family. Alice and Michael had six children, David Ponza (Betty Ponza), Geno Ponza (Kimberly Ponza), Gizelle Sipin (John Sipin), Jennifer Ponza, Anthony Ponza (Kirsten Ponza), and Mari Bennadja (Shamss Bennadja). 

Alice, Michael, and young David moved from their Scotts Valley home to the Ponza Ranch shortly after Michael’s father died in 1954. Michael’s mother was now alone on the ranch and needed help. The Soquel Ranch is where Alice and Michael raised their six children. Michael was an entrepreneur at heart and soon started his own Soquel excavating company with his older brother, Rob Ponza. Alice and Grandma Madeline known as “Noni,” put their energy into making a home and raising their six children. 

Alice was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when the first four children were young. She has been miraculously in remission for many years. Alice prayed to St Jude daily. PRAYERS WORK. Alice loved being a mother and watching her family grow. She was blessed with 10 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. They brought so much joy to her. 

Alice and Michael were able to achieve their lifelong goals of building a strong faithful family. Sadly, Michael was diagnosed with advanced Alzheimer’s Disease and passed in 2011. Her beloved son, Anthony, preceded her in death in 2019. 

Alice’s later years were happily spent surrounded by friends at Dominican Oaks Retirement Community. She referred to her new home at Dominican Oaks as the Fountain of Youth and Heaven on Earth. Her family was so happy to know that she had so much love and friendship.

Alice was a practicing Catholic and a parishioner at Saint Joseph’s Church in Capitola for over 60 years. She raised her children in the catholic faith and went to mass regularly. Her faith guided and protected her and her family through both good and tough times. Alice’s prayers, rosaries, and Rosary 3 in 1 Ministry were the unseen difference in her life. Her unshakable faith guided her each day. Alice 

was not afraid to die. Her faith was that the afterlife was going to be better than this world. Alice welcomed death as the next step to heaven and seeing her loved ones that she missed for so many years.

Recitation of the Holy Rosary and Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday  April 6, 2024 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Capitola with Fr. Wayne Dawson presiding. The rosary will begin at 10 a.m. and the funeral mass will follow at 11 a.m. An act of charity in Alice's memory can be made to St. Joseph's Church.