Deanie Moon

Deanie Moon was born Voldean Joan Mazant on February 21, 1932 to Joe & May Mazant in Anaconda, Montana and was the beloved little sister to Dolores Mazant Taylor.  In the early 1940’s the Mazant Family headed to California, making Albany their new home.  Deanie attended Berkeley High School where she met the love of her life, Jim Moon.  Jim & Deanie married on May 1, 1955 and Deanie enjoyed her administrative work at UC Berkeley’s Grounds & Maintenance Department.   Pamela joined the family in January 1959, just months after Jim & Deanie bought their first home in Hayward.  Stacey completed the Moon Family with her arrival in November 1963.  Deanie loved her role as wife and mother and made family gatherings warm and special, always making sure the girls were well attired in coordinating outfits Deanie lovingly created on her trusty Singer sewing machine.  In 1973 the family moved to a new home in Concord, just a few miles from her sister, Dolores, and her family.  With her girls a bit older, Deanie went back to work and was excited to enter a new field as the secretary for a local real estate office. 

The late 1970’s were challenging times as Jim & Deanie’s marriage faltered but Deanie found an independence she never knew, buying herself a townhome in Alamo and working for a new homes sales organization, The Ryness Company in Danville. She was Momma Deanie to a staff of new homes salespeople and later became queen of the flowcharts, tracking the details of hundreds of transactions.   The 1980’s brought a wonderful new chapter with Jim & Deanie reconciling in 1983, buying and renovating a home in Danville and becoming doting grandparents to Stacey’s daughters, Nicole & Michelle.   Both Jim & Deanie retired in 1993 and enjoyed their home, time with family and creating their respective craft projects until Jim departed earth in 1996 from cancer.  Deanie often referred to Jim as “the sunshine of her life” and while she missed him immensely, she enjoyed time with family and friends, and many getaways with her sister and brother-in-law, Dolores & Ken, at their Brentwood home or vacation home in Sierra City.   She joined a group of ladies in her neighborhood who gathered for cards, movies and other outings, calling themselves The Golden Girls, embarked on an extensive home remodel and loved spending time in her garden, tending to her collection of roses.  

Deanie’s family was expanded by three more granddaughters, Sarah, Pamela’s stepdaughter who is lovingly referred to as “Pamela’s eldest”, then Jenna & Jessica, born in 1999 & 2002.  Deanie loved time with all her granddaughters, buying girlie things, making beautiful, personalized Christmas stockings, doing puzzles, playing cards, and trying to keep up on all their activities.   Deanie also became an avid Warriors fan and excitedly donned her blue and gold socks in preparation of watching her team play night after night, season after season. 

In 2017 Deanie moved to Oakmont Retirement Living in San Jose and enjoyed independent living and socializing with the other residents.  In recent years, Deanie was afflicted with dementia and Alzheimer’s but even as those diseases progressed, she possessed the warmth, charm and grace she was known for.   Her family is grateful that even in the haze of confusion and foggy memories, Deanie’s nature shone through to her final days.  She remained strong willed about the things that were important to her, beamed a bright smile that came from within, expressed joy for the simple things and exuded deep love for her family.   Deanie was called to Heaven on July 5, 2022.

Deanie is survived by her daughters, Pamela Kliewer and Stacey Dutra, her granddaughters, Nicole Dutra, Michelle Dutra-Harrington, Sarah Hylen, Jenna Kliewer and Jessica Kliewer, sister-in-law Jacqueline Kraft, and nephews and niece Tim Taylor, Michael Taylor and Michele Hutchison-Ray.

A celebration of life will take place at 11AM on Friday, July 22, 2022 at Oakmont Memorial Park in Lafayette, California, with a lunch following the service.  In lieu of flowers, the family would much prefer donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.   The family would also like to recognize Grace & Arnel at BonHomie Care Home in Saratoga for their loving care of their dear mother.