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Lucy Williams

  It is with broken hearts that we announce the death of our mother, Lucy Williams, who died peacefully, on Monday, June 11, 2012.

  Lucy was born in N. Adams, Mass., and raised in Pittsfield, Mass., the second oldest of eight children. After graduating from high school and while working at GE, she met her future husband, Al Williams. They were married in 1942, and, after he returned from the war, they purchased what would become Williams’ Florists.  Al was the business side of the business and Lucy was the design side.  She was the ultimate wedding floral designer locally, but was made famous, to us, when the iconic photo of folk singer Arlo Guthrie’s wedding, with her flowers adorning both the bride and groom, was published in both Rolling Stone and Time publications.

  In 1976, Lucy and Al moved to California to be near their three children.  Lucy began work as a foster grandparent at Sonoma Developmental Center in 1978 and continued to work there after Al’s death in 1984, until she suffered a stroke while at work in 2008. She was named Woman of the Year by Assemblyman Joe Nation in 2003.  In 2007, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors offered a resolution commending her for 30 years of service

to the Sonoma Developmental Center as a foster grandparent.

  Lucy was imbued with a joyous soul that informed all of her relationships.  If you missed your mother, had lost your mother, or had a difficult relationship with your mother, you were immediately nurtured by her presence.  We delightfully offered to rent her out for $25/hour, $50 if her chocolate chip cookies were involved.

  Lucy is survived by her three children, as devoted to her as she was to us:  David “Lumpy,” her primary caregiver, of Santa Rosa; Judith “Tree” (Tom Azevedo), of Rio Nido; and Gary (Diane Wall), of Novato; and her grandchildren, Morgan and Graham Williams.  She is also survived by her adored sister, Peg Cadorette, of North Carolina and Peg’s children, Sherry, Joanne, Jeff and Joyce, as well as myriad wonderful friends and numerous nieces and nephews.

  A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, June 23, 2012, at 11 a.m. at Duggan’s Mission Chapel, 525 W. Napa St., Sonoma, with a reception to follow. 

  Donations to Sutter VNA Hospice, 1110 North Dutton Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95401.

Let the clapping and squeaking live on forever in our hearts.