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Agnes Lillian Soeth
Loving wife, strong mother
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Agnes Soeth passed away peacefully on Jan. 12, 2009 after 101 years of life.  She was preceded in death by her husband David Soeth, Sr.  

She had two sons, David Soeth, Jr. and wife Betsy of Manteca and James Soeth of Greeley, Colorado.  She had three grandchildren, Peter Soeth and wife Caryl of Westminster, Colorado; Christine Soeth of Manteca and Matthew Soeth of Lodi.  She also has two great-grandchildren, Liz Anne Soeth and Jack Soeth of Westminster, Colorado, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Agnes was born to Lillian and James Burke in Oakland on Oct. 22, 1907; she was the eldest of five children, James Burke, Helen Davis, Dorothy Burke and Claire Corcoran-Monahan, all deceased.  Agnes attended University High School, finishing with a Business Certificate and going to work for Dunn & Co., in San Francisco. She later moved to F.W. Woolworth in marketing as executive secretary to the VP of Marketing.  She held the position until she married in 1935. After she retired from the business world, she used her skills at home to keep her home and assist her two boys with business skills.

She met her husband over 65 years, David Soeth, in 1928 when a friend of their mothers’ asked David to drive Agnes and Mrs. Burke home. The Depression put marriage plans on hold as the couple had to help their family.  

When David landed a job with the California Street Cable Car Company and two of Agnes’ siblings found jobs, she and David were married on February 12, 1935.  Their first home was in San Francisco, but the couple moved back to Oakland in 1939 and raised their sons in East Oakland.  In 1982, Agnes and David moved to Manteca and bought a home near her son David and her grandchildren.  Her last eight years were spent at Bethany Home in Ripon.

Agnes was active in her parish in Oakland and St. Anthony’s in Manteca.  She loved to bake and garden at home.  She enjoyed crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles and reading newspapers and magazines relating to current events and gardening.  After her husband retired, they traveled extensively.

Agnes Soeth was a loving wife, caring partner for life to her husband.  She was a strong, supportive mother to her children and a source of strength and cookies to her grandchildren.  She was calm, low-key as she got older, using her spare time to enjoy the world around her.  She drew others to her; many who cared for her in her last years shed tears with the family at her passing.  Earning respect and caring of others shows a person who cares and respects others; Agnes was such a person.

A Vigil will be held Monday, Jan. 19, at 7  p.m. at P.L. Fry & Son Funeral Home, 290 N. Union Road, Manteca. A  Mass of Christian Burial will be on Tuesday, Jan. 20, at 11 a.m. at St. Anthony’s Church of Padua, 505 E. North Street, Manteca, followed by a burial at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, 17871 S. Carrolton Road, Escalon. In lieu of flowers, please send remembrances to St. Vincent de Paul Society, c/o St. Anthony Church of Padua, 505 E. North Street, Manteca, CA 95336.
Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009