Obituaries Obituaries (February 09, 2005)

Kathryn Brennan Reimer

Community leader and volunteer

A memorial service will be held Sunday, February 27, for Kathryn (Kay) Brennan Reimer of Portola Valley, who died January 30. She was 77.

The celebration of her life will take place at 1:30 p.m. at the Woodside Priory School Chapel, 302 Portola Road, Portola Valley.

A resident of Palo Alto and Portola Valley since 1956, Ms. Reimer was active in several volunteer organizations. She was a past president of the Friends of Filoli, and a continuing member of the Filoli Advisory Board since 1979. She served as president of the Woodside-Atherton Auxiliary to Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford, and committee chair for the Woodside-Atherton Garden Club. She was named Peninsula Volunteer of the Year in 1983.

Most recently, she volunteered as a teacher's assistant at St. Elizabeth Seton School in Palo Alto.

Ms. Reimer was born in Placer County, the daughter of James J. and Martha Brennan, a fourth-generation family of orchardists. She graduated from the University of Nevada, where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.

She met her future husband, Paul Reimer, at the university and they were married in 1951.

Ms. Reimer fought a two-year battle against lymphoma. However, she was able to take part in her grandson's wedding two weeks before her death.

She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Paul Reimer of Portola Valley; her children, Dr. Mark Brennan Reimer of Colleyville, Texas, Paul David Reimer of San Rafael, and Kristie Kathryn Reimer of Pacific Grove; three sisters, Martha Gay Krpan, Jean Munley and Patricia Harper; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Memorials in Ms. Reimer's name may be made to the Presidents' Steps Project at Filoli, 86 Canada Road, Woodside, CA 94062; St. Elizabeth Seton School, 1095 Channing Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94301; or Woodside Priory School.

Helen Musso

Retired purchasing agent

A memorial Mass will be held Saturday, February 19, for Helen Marie Quilfelt Musso, who died January 30. Ms. Musso, who was born and raised in Menlo Park, died in her sleep at the Forum in Cupertino. She was 89.

The Mass will take place at 10 a.m. at the Church of the Nativity, 210 Oak Grove Ave. in Menlo Park.

Ms. Musso graduated from Stanford University and became the first woman purchasing agent for the state of California, family members said. She retired in 1975 after a 35-year career with the state. In 1990 she and her husband moved from Atherton to the Forum retirement community in Cupertino.

Ms. Musso's husband, Fred Musso, preceded her in death.

Following services, there will be private interment at Holy Cross Cemetery in Menlo Park. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.

William Simons

Retired accountant

William (Bill) Riley Simons of Palo Alto, a former Atherton resident, died January 26 at the age of 77.

Mr. Simons was born in Sacramento and moved to Palo Alto with his family in 1931. His father, a baker, owned the bakery at Liddicoat's Market for several years.

Mr. Simons attended Palo Alto schools, graduating from Palo Alto High School in 1945. He graduated with honors in accounting from San Jose State University after serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps.

As an accountant, Mr. Simons worked for Arthur Anderson in San Francisco, Sunlite Bakery and television station KNTV in San Jose. He took early retirement because of his health. In later years, he enjoyed traveling and woodworking, making furniture for the family home, say family members.

The Simons were former members of Ladera Oaks Swim and Tennis Club.

Mr. Simons is survived by his wife of 53 years, interior designer Jane Simons of Portola Valley; sons John Simons of Mountain View and Robert Simons of Pacific Grove; and a grandson.

Memorial services will be held at a later date. The family prefers memorials to the Hospice Unit, Attention: Sheila Kennedy, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, 3801 Miranda Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94304. Arrangements were under the direction of Roller Hapgood & Tinney.

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