Jane Parkinson Kunde

Jane P. Kunde is dancing in the arms of the love of her life, Fred. She departed this world as she lived, on her own terms, Monday, February 24, 2014. Jane lived her life vibrantly, embracing every new challenge that came her way and embarking on remarkable adventures in every phase of her life. Jane was born August 17, 1931, in National City, California, to Fern and Joseph Frank. She spent her youth in New York, Texas and California, attending eight different high schools, including Sonoma Valley High School, before graduating from Vallejo High School. Jane studied lab sciences at the University of California Berkeley where she was the first female editor of the Cal Engineer Newsletter. She met her husband, Fred Kunde while attending Sonoma Valley High School and they married in 1952. Jane immediately began her career as a Medical Laboratory Technologist for the State of California at Sonoma State Hospital Eldridge. She heeded her mother's advice to enter a career field that required certification/accreditation and eventually became the Lab Manager. In retirement, Jane spent many hours at Kunde Family Estate Winery answering phones and in her own words "doing whatever needed to be done." She continued to pour for the winery at the Valley of the Moon Patron's Tasting carrying on a tradition she started with Fred until 2012. She liked engaging with the people at events and share the story of the family, vineyards and wine with them. She had an amazing memory for facts and could relate them to folks in a very charming manner making friends wherever she went. Jane loved reading (biographies were a favorite) and she loved libraries. She was appointed to the Sonoma County Library Commission in 1988 and served as a Commissioner for 20 years. She volunteered two days a week for more than 25 years at the Sonoma Valley Branch of the Sonoma County Library. Jane also loved to travel and would seek out libraries in the cities she visited. Fred and Jane also traveled with their friends, Gus and Viv Bertoli. After Fred passed in 1993, she continued to travel independently. Jane traveled with the Cal Alumni tours going on the National Geographic ship "The Explorer" to the Galapagos in 2009. Later she traveled with her sons Kurt and Bill and daughter-in-law, Robin, on a Mediterranean cruise, then to Chicago and San Diego, and finally a trip including her entire family - four generations - to Hawaii in 2013. If you knew Jane, you knew she was an avid San Francisco Giants fan. Her love of baseball started when she was a girl in New York and her father was a pitcher on a minor league team. A season ticket holder at AT&T Park from its opening day and Scottsdale Stadium (spring training) she went so far as to own a home walking distance to the Scottsdale ball park. When it came to her beloved baseball, Jane was a purist and would be happy to debate it, believing that "baseball should be played under the blazing sun, on real grass, and pitchers should take their turn at bat." Jane was a member of St. Patrick's Episcopal Church in Kenwood, Sonoma County Library Commissioner (1988-2008), 25+ year volunteer at Sonoma Valley Library, Patron of the Arts, SF Ballet Season Ticket Holder, volunteer reader to children at Kenwood School, volunteer teacher at St. Patrick's vacation Bible School, volunteer at the Santa Rosa Museum, tennis player and was devoted to reading and learning. Jane was predeceased by her loving husband, Fred Kunde, and her beloved brother, Rod Parkinson. She is survived by her cherished sons Kurt (Robin) Kunde and Bill Kunde, her grandchildren Jason (Brittany) Kunde, Ryan (Katie) Kunde, Brigitte (Brady) Kunde Mullin, and great-grandchildren Ava, Jayden, and Arianna Kunde. She was anticipating a fourth great-grandchild (Ryan & Katie) in March. She is also survived by brother-in-law, Richard Kunde, and devoted caregivers Etta, Yvonne, Heather, and Finau. As an expression of sympathy, the family prefers memorial donations in Jane's memory be directed to the Sonoma Valley Branch of the Sonoma County Library (755 W. Napa Street, Sonoma, CA, 95476) or to the charity of the donor's choice. Family and friends are invited to attend a "Celebration of Jane's Life" on Friday, March 7, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at the St. Patrick's Episcopal Church (9000 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood, CA, 95452). A reception will follow services. Private inurnment.