April 4, 1926 - March 2, 2023
Mildred was born April 4th, 1926, along with her twin sister Margaret in Oroville CA. She moved to Stockton with her family in 1941 and graduated from Stockton College while also working in their family grocery store. Here, she met and married Gerald (Jerry) Preeo in 1947. Mildred passed on March 2, 2023, just 33 days shy of her 97th birthday.
In 1961, Mildred became the Director of a new program for special needs adults in a small church near the fairgrounds in Stockton while also raising 3 sons, 2 of whom were special needs themselves. Mildred was instrumental in the start and development of what became the Adult Activity Center in a newly built building on Calaveras Ave. serving about a dozen special needs clients. After several years the program was taken over by the county and then, Valley Mountain Regional Center serving over 100 clients. Mildred retired in 1988 after 27 years.
Mildred was predeceased by her parents, Ernest and Auvie Lawrence, all 7 of her siblings, her husband of 62 years, Jerry, sons David and Marc, and her grandson Matthew’s daughter, Trinity. She is survived by her son Bruce (Cindy), her Grandson Jason (Devon) and their children Davis, Hudson and Stella, and her Grandson Matthew and his children Mallory, and Noah. She is also survived by her twin sister’s daughters Susan Newell (James), and Debi Banez, and her sons Devin & Adam (Monica) along with many other nieces and nephews.
VISITATION
A visitation will be held from 4:00pm - 7:00pm on Thursday, March 16th 2023 at the Vineyard Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park, located at 14165 N. Beckman Rd, Lodi, CA 95240.
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Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Preeo family.