Our beloved Gwen slipped the bonds of human frailty, her spritely soul released,  two weeks after her 68th birthday.

Mother's most precious "china doll", Gwen was born 7th into a large Irish-Catholic family. So, on the other side eager to greet her are: Her parents, LeRoy and Elizabeth "Betty" Wood (nee Hill, previously Arrick); Her sisters Arda (nee Arrick) Renton (Charles, deceased), Mary "Kay" (nee Arrick) Anguilm (Edward, deceased), Marilyn Arrick, Diana (nee Wood) LesCamela (Charles, living); Her brothers, Joseph E. Arrick (Pamela, deceased), and Douglas K. Wood (Rita, living).

Left to celebrate decades of charm and Gwen's winsome earthly imprint are her husband, John Vannie, her previous husband Charles Buzzy, her daughter Christina (nee Buzzy) Whitson (and Scott), Brendan Vannie (and Amanda Tran), and that precocious granddaughter Amber Vannie. (Happy second birthday, Amber!)

Two brothers, Paul Arrick (Marie), and James "David" Arrick (Jeri); and two sisters, Sharon Kott (nee Wood), and Mary Larson (Eric) have yet to join the celestial reunion.

While Gwen herself had, in loving remembrance, mourned the loss of all of her beloved aunts and uncles, her cousins Russell Zoelling (Nancy, deceased), Larry Robb, Pamela "Autumn" Ortiz, Daniel Robb, and Diane Bodenmiller (Gary, living), from far and wide, seven cousins are left to remember our Gwen: Mary Zoelling; Susan (nee Zoelling) Peruski (Mark); Lisa (nee Robb) Awayed (Simon); Robin (nee Hill) MacDonald (Gerald); Greg Hill; Laurie (nee Hill) Caswell (Michael), previously Celia.

Sixteen beloved nephews and three precious nieces will remember her fondly, too.

A celebration of Gwen's full and happy life is planned for Saturday, July 15,  at 11:00 am at the Poway Bernardo Mortuary, 13243 Poway Road, Poway, California 92064.