Family Gatherings and Remembrances

We have received many emails of condolences from long-time friends and family, thank you. We all have special memories of Anna.

Here is the obituary notice for Anna:

Anna Achtner Breite, 81, of Anaheim, passed away May 31, 2008. Born March 5, 1927 in New York, she was the third child of Joseph Achtner and Elsie Hajovsky.

Anna, or Anne as she was known by many, was married for over thirty years to Edward M. Breite who preceded her in death in 1983. They lived in East Meadow, New York until 1966 when they decided to get out of the snow and make the big move to Anaheim, CA.

Anna enjoyed many diverse activities. She began her longtime love of baseball as a New York Mets fan, and after moving to Anaheim became an avid Anaheim Angels fan serving as an usher at Anaheim Stadium. She served the Anaheim Union High School District for over 20 years in many capacities starting as a “currier” then becoming a school bus driver and eventually working in the accounting department. She was most fond of driving the bus full of band students or her special education students.

She was an active member of The Garden Grove Emblem Club #279, the Orange County Orchid Society, the Anaheim Circle of Friends, the Phoenix Club (where you would often see her kicking up her heels while tripping the light fantastic with her friend Kirby Gastellum), and the Anaheim Senior Citizens Club where she chaperoned on many of their Las Vegas excursions.

Not one to sit around, Anna was always making plans to visit a Northern California Jazz Festival, or to see a stage production or Broadway show. She loved dogs and missed her Scottish Terrier, Angus. Always amazed and fond of gadgets, Anna, would bring the "latest, greatest gizmo" home from the most recent county fair or home show. She enjoyed painting porcelain, collecting dolls, coins, stamps, Faberge eggs; listening to jazz and classic crooners like Mel Torme or Mario Lanza and watching James Garner movies. Anna loved raising indoor African Violets along with her orchids and successfully competed in local shows. She also created a full-sized aviary at home to house her finches, parakeets, cockatiels and doves.

Anna's feisty personality endeared her to everyone, gathering friends like a honeybee gathers nectar. A dear and loyal friend, she remembered special occasions, rejoiced in their joys and shared in their sorrows.

Anna is predeceased by her spouse, Edward M. Breite, September 1983; her sister, Ella Achtner Bosc, Oct 2004; her brother-in-law, Fred Breite; her sister-in-law, Francis Breite; and her nephew, Alan Achtner, November 2007.

She is survived by her son, Lawrence Breite and his wife, Laura, of San Diego, CA; her daughter, Valerie Joerger and her husband, John, of Portland, OR. Her seven grandchildren: Ethan Breite of San Diego; Whitney Breite of Seattle, WA; Cara Breite and Jenna Breite of San Diego, CA; Nicholas, Christopher and D.J. Joerger of Portland, OR. Her brother, Edward Achtner and his wife, Kathy, of Clarksburg, MD; nephew James (Sonny) Chase of Paysen, AZ; niece, Joyce Bosc of Maryland; Steven Achtner and his wife, Vivian, of New York; nephew, E.J. Achtner and his wife, Ilse, of Maryland and niece, Veronica Null and her husband, Craig, of Florida.

A viewing and Rosary was be held on Tuesday, June 3, 2008 Pierce Bros. Mortuary, 2425 W. Lincoln, Anaheim, CA 92801.

A longtime member of St. Justin Martyr Catholic Church, 2050 W. Ball Rd., Anaheim, CA, Mass was held in her memory on Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. A graveside ceremony followed at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery, 2845 Santiago Canyon Rd., Orange, CA 92869.

Thanks goes to Coventry Court of Anaheim and to Admiral Hospice Care, Inc. who lovingly cared for Anna during the past few years and days.

The family requests that donations be made to the American Diabetes Association in lieu of flowers. For more information please contact Larry Breite at 858-213-9538 or 858-484-9538.