Betty Eileen Brunelle Pando, 97 passed away on 2/21/2021 in Ventura, CA. Eileen was born in Aurora, KA on 12/15/1923 to Francis and Mabel Brunelle. She attended Aurora HS where she graduated class valedictorian in 1941. Eileen then worked as a telephone operator in Concordia KA where she met Joseph P. Pando of CA who was in the Army and stationed in KA. After the War, the couple married and settled in Los Banos, CA and together had six children, Judy, Joe, Jim, Joan, Janice and Jackie. While living in Los Banos, and raising her children, Eileen was very active in the community and found time to volunteer for various school and church organizations.
She and Joe moved to Santa Barbara in 1967 where they owned and operated a drive in restaurant and put all six kids to work there. After selling the drive in, Eileen went to work for the Goleta Valley School District. She again volunteered at church and at her kid’s school and later at the Goleta Valley Hospital. They remained in Santa Barbara until Joe’s death in 2010. Eileen later moved to Ventura to be closer to her family.
She was proceeded in death by her beloved husband Joe, her parents, her two brothers, Norm and Elden Brunelle. Eileen is survived by her sister Avis Prophet of Danville, CA, her six children, 14 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren and by numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at Sacred Heart Church 10800 Henderson Rd, Ventura, CA 93004 on March 13, at 12:00. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association. The family wishes to express our gratitude to Livingston hospice services.