Obituary of Genevieve Ada Fillmore

Genevieve Fillmore Genevieve Ada McAbee Fillmore born to Roy and Anna McAbee on January 31, 1920 in Merced, CA, died peacefully at her home April 27, 2011, with her sister and two nieces at her side. Gen fought a courageous battle with cancer for the past 5 years. Gen grew up in the San Joaquin Valley in Earlimart, CA, moving to Santa Cruz at the age of 14 where she lived in the family home at 1205 Broadway. Gen graduated fro SCHS in 1937, then went on to graduate from San Jose State with a bachelors in journalism and homemaking. A little known fact and homemaking being a family joke! Gen preferred journalism over homemaking! During World War Two she graduated from O'Conner Hospital School of Nursing in 1946 along with her sister Annabelle. Going on to work at the old SC Hospital on Soquel Ave., which is now Branciforte Plaza. Over the years Gen shared many stories about the numerous babies she helped deliver. Gen moved to SF in 1950 to work for the California League of Nursing, continuing her nursing career in Pasadena working for Huntington Memorial Hospital as a medical-surgical nursing instructor. About 1960, Gen moved to NY City, where she met and married the love of her life, Daniel Fillmore. Together they enjoyed the opera, Broadway plays, and traveling. After retiring to Santa Cruz around 1970, Gen found her love of golf, serving as captain of the Delaveaga Nifty Niners, and was a long time member of The Valley Gardens Ladies Club. Gen started the tradition of the club donating gifts each Christmas to the Pleasant Care Nursing Home patients. Gen served as Ombudsmen to the Pleasant Care Nursing Home for many years. After the death of her husband, Gen continued to travel living a life of acceptance and being open to new friends and adventures. Gen is preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Anna McAbee, her husband Dan, her brother and sister-in-law, Tom & Jean McAbee, and her sister Dorothea McAbee Jones. Gen is survived by her sister Annabelle McAbee Poston; her son David Fillmore; brother-in-law Bud Jones; and numerous loving nieces and nephews, and grand nieces and nephews; and her grandchildren Christopher and Danielle Fillmore. Donations preferred to the Hospice of Santa Cruz County and the American Cancer Society. A celebration of Gen's remarkable life will follow at a future date.