Frances Berendsen

Frances Harriet Berendsen, 100, of Santa Barbara California, passed away August 19, 2016. She went on her final journey with her loving family surrounding her bedside.
The funeral mass will be conducted by Father Jesus Silva at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Santa Barbara on September, 16 2016 at 10 AM. with burial in Calvary Cemetery. An early Spring Funeral mass is planned in Burlington, Ia in April,2017.
Frances was born in Dodgeville Iowa on October 30, 1915.
All of her 100 years she enjoyed life and spending time with her family and friends.
Frances is preceded in death by her parents, William J and Theresa M Riffel, one sister, Antoinette M Riffel, and three brothers, Clarence, Joseph and William Riffel. She was married to Lawrence C Berendsen who died in 1965. They operated an Investment firm in Burlington Iowa until 1965. Two of her four children entered God’s abundance one in 1969, Donna T Meza, and in 2003 Jean M Widstrup. One of her grandchildren, Kathleen M Herrera died in 2011.
She is survived by two sisters, Loretta I Riffel of Davenport Iowa, and Helen T Schmeiser of Burlington Iowa, two daughters, Mary A Longmore, and son-in-law Morley w. Longmore of Las Vegas Nevada and Nancy K Berendsen of Uraguay. She is also survived by 29 grandchildren and great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society and American Diabetes Association. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Valle Verde Medical Center and staff for their support of Frances and her family.