Amy Gannon Finkle

AMY GANNON FINKLE born Amy Jean Bates in 1924 in San Francisco, she completed her life at home on August 4, 2013 with Dan Finkle. She is survived by her seven children (Joe, Frank, Bob, Midge, Tim and Bill Gannon and Mary DiLillo); their spouses; ten grandchildren: Joel, John, Patrick, Tyler, Dylan, Niya, Mikaela, Amy Kate, Rosalyn, Tim Jr.; and five great-grandchildren: Caden, Niko, James, Joseph and Louise. Amy was raised in Oakland, CA, attended St. Bernard's School, and won a scholarship to Holy Names College where she was class president for three years. She then attended University of California at Berkeley where she earned a BA in Chemistry. Upon graduation, she was hired by Curtis & Tompkins as a chemist. Next, Amy worked for the Atomic Energy Commission in the Physics Department, counting proton tracks and later using a Geiger counter for research. Amy married John Gannon, Senior Sanitary Engineer for the State of California. In 1949, Amy and John moved from Berkeley to Santa Rosa where they raised their seven children. While raising her family, Amy attended Sonoma State University, earned a BA in Biology and began her new career as a microbiologist for Memorial Hospital where she worked for 20 years. She was a member of the Sonoma County Grand Jury at one time and later served on the Sonoma County Library Board from 1989-1994. Amy will be remembered first and foremost as a mother, grandmother, and wife. Yet, her intellectual life and interest in science remained active until her final days. Amy's past 20 years after retirement were spent in bliss with her childhood sweetheart and second husband Dan Finkle. Amy was an active writer in the Oakmont Writers' Guild and enjoyed years of travel and friendship with Dan and her family. Friends and family are invited to attend the Funeral Mass, Monday, August 12, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Star of the Valley Catholic Church, 545 White Oak Dr., Santa Rosa. A reception will follow. The Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 11, 2013 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a Vigil Service at 6:00 p.m. at the LAFFERTY & SMITH COLONIAL CHAPEL, 4321 Sonoma Hwy., Santa Rosa, CA. Private Interment.