Obituary Mary (Milly) Catherine Sorensen January 6, 2016

Mary (Milly) Catherine Sorensen

Milly Sorensen, born in Dublin Ireland, August 13, 1936, went to be with the Lord December 25, 2015.  Raised in Ireland she attended Loreto Catholic School for Girls where she made lifelong friends.  After marrying an American serviceman she left Ireland and eventually settled in Santa Paula where she raised her family and met new friends she cherished for a lifetime.

Milly became very involed in Saint Sebastian’s Church and Saint Sebastian’s School where her three children attended. It was during this time that she and other parents gathered support to open a small library in a space that was once an old storage room.  Milly had a special love of books and reading her entire life.  She often told her children “why are you buying that book, go to the library.”  Her love of books eventually led her to a job at the Santa Paula High School Library in 1977.   Working under the school Librarian, she learned all she could about running a library and eventually took over as supervisor of the library.  She took great pride working with teachers, students and especially knowing every book on the library shelves.  Milly also took a part time position in 1994 at Thomas Aquinas College Library and assisted with the move to the new St. Bernardine of Siena Library.  She retired from the High School Library in 1994 and just after a few short months of retirement she was asked to work part time at the Blanchard Community Library January 1995. When out and about she was often greeted by past High School students and Blanchard Community Library patrons as  “The Library Lady” which always made her smile.  During her tenure, Milly spreaheaded successful fundraisers known as  “Swing for the Seats”  where supporters of the library came to bid on numerous items donated for auction and enjoyed a good meal then danced the night away by a local Swing Band.  Milly worked at Blanchard Community Library until her health forced her to retire March 2014.

Milly is proceeded in death by her mother Lena Kennedy Woods, father, Harry Woods, brothers, Cyril and Eamon Woods all of Dublin Ireland.  She is survived by her three children, son and daughter in law, Sean and Robin Sorensen of Anchorage, Alaska, daughters Lisa Sorensen of Santa Paula and Maureen Sorensen of Ventura. Four grandsons, also known as her greatest joy, Zachary Sorensen of San Francisco, California, Andrew Sorensen of Anchorage, Alaska, Matthew Sorensen of Oakland, California, and Kevin Sorensen of Anchorage, Alaska.  She is also survived by her brother Andrew Woods of Lewes England, and sister Carmal Cardinale of Devon England.  

We wish to thank caregivers at The Palms at the Boneventure and her hospice team of caregivers at Assisted Hospice Care of Ventura.  We especially want to thank her in home caregivers Sherrie Foley and Melissa Patterson.  You are all truly special individuals and there are no words to express how much we appreciate the care provided to our mother.