Obituary of Greta Gail Abbott

Greta Abbott passed away peacefully on June 9, 2023 at her home in Scotts Valley surrounded by her family.  She was 89 years old.  Greta was a 62 year resident of Scotts Valley. 

Greta Eichinger (Abbott) was born in February, 1934 to John Eichinger and Ethel (Ferrick) Eichinger in Sharon PA.  Greta met husband, John, when he drove his hot rod down the street where Greta lived.  They were married in 1953.  When jobs in Pennsylvania became scarce, John and Greta loaded their then four kids in the Country Squire wagon and drove across country to California for new opportunities. Greta’s husband John passed away in 2019 after 65 years of marriage.

Greta was an active parishioner of San Agustin Catholic Church in Scotts Valley where she taught First Holy Communion classes for many years. She was devoted to bringing the words and teachings of Jesus into the lives of the little ones. Greta was a Eucharistic Minister and brought the Eucharist to residents of Brookdale Assisted Living in Scotts Valley.  

She will forever be remembered as a loving and nurturing mom and grammie who put family first.   She enjoyed crafting, sewing, baking and hosting family gatherings.  Greta also served as president of the PTA at Vine Hill School and was a member of the Altar Society at San Agustin.

Greta is survived by her son John (Bud) and his wife Janice; daughter Mary and her husband Mike McMurry; daughter Ellen and her husband Peter Arzouni; her son Mark and his wife Cecilia; and her son Matt and many extended family members. Her infant daughter Jennifer preceded her in death.

Greta also leaves grandchildren: Allison Abbott; Erin McMurry, Joey McMurry and his wife Lizzy, Jennifer Ritchie and her husband Ryan, Amanda Corbin and her husband Joel, and Annie Abbott and four great grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, June 24 at 10:30 at St. Agustin Catholic Church, 257 Glenwood Drive, Scotts Valley. She will be laid to rest in a private ceremony beside her late husband John at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Santa Cruz.  A kind act of charity in Greta’s memory can be made to Heartland Hospice in Monterey.  Heartland Hospice website: https://www.promedicahospice.org/Monterey.