Arthea Jean Hermann
Arthea Jean Hermann, 85, passed away on the morning of Saturday, February 8, 2025, at her home in Santa Barbara, surrounded by her husband Tom, sons Mark and Steve, and daughter-in-law Talina. She is also survived by her beloved granddaughters, Laurel and Elle, along with extended family members.
Born on August 11, 1939, in Deadwood, South Dakota, to Douglas and Dorothy Mendenhall, Arthea spent her childhood in South Dakota, where she visited her grandparents’ ranch. Years later during a drive into Hollywood she met her future husband. Tom liked to recall, “I certainly wasn’t going to miss the chance to meet a pretty woman driving an Austin Healey sports car.” So, over pastries and coffee in Norm’s Coffee Shop on Sunset Boulevard their chance meeting turned into the start of a 60-year commitment to each other. They were married on June 20, 1964, at St. Genevieve Catholic Church in Panorama City, California.
Arthea’s teenage years were spent in the San Fernando Valley. She attended Northridge College (later known as California State University, Northridge), where she earned a teaching degree. She taught at various elementary schools while supporting Tom through his studies. After moving to Riverside, California, five years later, she continued teaching for two more years before embarking on a second career as a real estate agent. Arthea later earned her real estate broker’s license and started her third career as an entrepreneur, purchasing, renovating, and reselling small homes in Riverside. Though quiet and modest, Arthea achieved success in every endeavor she pursued.
Above all, Arthea was the heart and soul of her family. Her love, patience, and forgiving nature were the glue that held them together through both the good and challenging times. She especially looked forward to Holidays where the family would gather and celebrate together. Known for her generosity, inclusiveness, and the warmth she shared with everyone she met, Arthea leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness and devotion.
Her passing will leave a void in the hearts of everyone she touched.
