Anna Louise Mass
Passed from this life on December 7, 2015 at the age of 92. Anna was born on April 13, 1923 on a farm, north of Visalia, California to Eugene G. Rice and Mary A. Garrison Rice. Shortly after her birth, the family left the farm when Eugene began his teaching career in several Tulare County Schools. In 1927 Anna’s sister Eugenia Ellen was born into the family. Anna & “Gene” have remained best friends throughout their lives. In 1939, the family moved to Exeter, CA where Anna’s father became the Superintendent of Elementary Schools and Mary gave piano lessons. The family spent many happy summers at their cabin on Huntington Lake that Eugene had built.
Anna graduated from Exeter Union High School in 1941 and attended College of the Sequoias in Visalia where she met & married Jackson F. Burke. The couple moved to Berkeley to attend the University of California. After Jackson graduated from UC Berkley, he accepted a teaching position at Kamehameha Schools in Honolulu Hawaii and Anna worked at a children’s day care center. They lived on the school campus until World War II ended when they returned to Berkeley. Anna and Jackson’s daughter, Virginia, was born in February, 1946. Anna’s marriage ended shortly after their return to Berkeley.
Anna’s loving Aunt Ethel Rice Dawson who lived close by, along with her husband Herbert and their daughter Marilyn brought Virginia into their family to raise. Anna remained close by throughout Virginia’s childhood.
Upon finishing her education at UC Berkeley, Anna became a Social Worker that covered the North Bay. In the 1950’s Anna attended USC to gain a Master’s of Social Work Degree in Family Therapy. While at USC, she married Howard Mass. The marriage ended at the conclusion of her training. After an internship in Pasadena, she moved to San Francisco to work as a Therapist for the City and County of San Francisco Mental Health Department until she retired in December of 1987.
Anna had a long-time relationship with Ray Flyer. When Ray became ill, Anna took care of his needs until his death in 2004.
In October 2004 Anna move to the Atrium in Carmichael, CA to live closer to her daughter. She has resided the last two years at the Royal Palms Care Home in Fair Oaks where she has been given excellent and loving care by the administrators Cosminia and Sam Rogoveanu and their staff.
Anna had a great interest in art, classical music and opera. She was an avid reader of both classical and modern literature. When she retired Anna took literature courses for UC Alumnae. She was very giving and contributed to several charitable and political causes.
Anna loved the beauty of nature. She especially enjoyed visiting Golden Gate Park and seeing the various plants and flowers in bloom throughout the seasons. She also enjoyed traveling both oversees and to many amazing locations within the United States.
Anna is survived by her devoted sister Gene Ellen Machetanz, two nephews, Roger and Robert Myers, her daughter, Virginia McPeak, her grandchildren, Blake McPeak and Laura Camarillo, great-grandchildren, Tara Camarillo, Jacob McPeak, Michaella Camarillo, Darrien Camarillo, Jessica McPeak and many cousins including Marilyn Dawson Short.
Anna will be privately interred at Fair Oaks Cemetery in Fair Oaks, CA. Memorial donations in Anna’s name may be made to Agape Villages Foster Family Agency at 3160 Crow Canyon Place, Suite 120, San Ramon, CA 94583.