White Pines, CA…Fae Janet Gibson 1937-2017. “When people die, they cannot be replaced. They leave holes that cannot be filled, for it is the fate — the genetic and neural fate — of every human being to be a unique individual, to find his own path, to live his own life, to die his own death.”-Oliver Sacks. Our beloved mother, Fae Janet (Grove Dutton Frenette) Gibson, passed away at her home in Hayward, California, on January 21st 2017. She was 79. She was surrounded by her loving children and their spouses, as well as hospice volunteers and dedicated caregivers.

Fae was born to William “Bill” Grove and Helen F. “Susie” (Hansen Grove) Bouillin on July 26th, 1937, in Stockton, San Joaquin County, California. She grew up in Twain Harte, Tuolumne County, California. Fae was preceded in death by her father, her mother, her uncle Thomas Hansen, and her beloved step father, Paul H. Bouillin, as well as her beautiful granddaughter Andrea Marie Milano Porter.

Fae lived an adventurous, vibrant life, filled with courage, chaos, and loving service. As a young girl, she was a talented pianist, and in a spiritual quest of her own, Fae underwent baptism and confirmation in the Catholic Church. Fae enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, and was honorably discharged as a Private First Class. Many years later, when asked why she enlisted, Fae quietly said that she felt a deep sense of personal patriotism. She endured boot camp in Parris Island, South Carolina in the 1950’s, and was subsequently stationed in San Diego, CA. During that time Fae was instrumental in helping to create the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots program.

Fae was married three times, to an Air Force squadron leader (John Frenette), a professional cowboy (Al George Braley Dutton), and a Tuolumne County sanitation engineer (James R. Gibson). Fae had several long term relationships, most notably with James D. “Sam” Wells, a retired nurse, and Sam Funari, a jeweler and former mayor of Old Sacramento. A proud graduate of the Columbia Junior College Nursing Program, Fae was a hard working and highly skilled professional nurse, progressing in her chosen field and eventually becoming a surgical technician. As her nursing career drew to a close, she volunteered at Loaves & Fishes, a homeless advocacy program in Sacramento. Fae also felt an intense and joyous connection to the island of Maui, where she often visited with the loving companion of her heart, Paul. She was very proud of becoming a SCUBA diver, earning both PADI and NAUI certifications. Fae was direct, forthright, swore like a Marine, and told things straight up. She read voraciously, and particularly loved John Steinbeck, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, James Lee Burke, and John D. MacDonald.

Fae was fiercely proud of and deeply loved her three successful children, Ruan Frenette (Lance Nordstrom) of Hayward, CA; Michael Frenette (Lisa) of Waco, TX; and Jennifer Dutton Roland (Jason), of White Pines, CA. Fae is survived by her three children; her stepson Tyler Dutton; her beloved aunt, Ina Grace (Hansen Schmidt) Soma; her brother Glenn Grove (Phyllis) and nieces and nephews Dennis, David and Sherry Grove-Paulo, and Donna, Russell, Paul and Marty Blacker; her cousin Gary Schmidt (Gloria) and their sons Jared and Brian (Brianna) Schmidt; her grandchildren Scott Frenette, Kyle Frenette, Patrick Henderson, Keith Cantrell; and great grandchildren Isabella Garrett, Aden Milano and Seth Milano. Fae’s ashes are with her joyous spirit on Maui, and also interred at the historic Buena Vista Cemetery, in the gold rush town of Murphys, CA.