Pamela Ann Koch was born on September 11, 1943 in San Francisco, CA She was the only child of William Koch and Marjorie Woods Koch. Pam died on Friday, 09/16/16 at 2:30 pm with her loving daughter, Lori, by her side. The previous Sunday, she had just turned 73. She was a resident of Turlock for four years. after living her entire life in the Bay Area.
Pam attended Balboa High School in S.F. where she fell in love with Edward Miller Kost. They married in 1961 and had three daughters and then divorced. In 1970, Pam married Leonard P. Grassini and they had a son and raised the “Grassini Family Population 6” in Antioch, CA. Their marriage ended in 1979. Pam had several long term relationships throughout the following decades, but never remarried.
Pam had a deep love for all furry animals, but cats were her favorite. She is survived by her beloved kitty, Sammy, who brought her a lot of joy. Pam was born with both a sweet tooth and a green thumb. She loved her favorite sweets! And with her green thumb she cultivated beautiful gardens of roses, perennials, annuals, succulents, and cactus. During the 1970’s Pam expressed her creative side with creating ceramics, macramé, and collecting dollhouse miniatures. At that time she loved to swim and sunbathe.
Pam loved decorating for the holidays, and Christmas was her favorite. Every room of her home was filled with decorations. The taller the Christmas tree the happier Pam was! She would ensure that each ornament was perfectly placed on the tree whether it was a miniature tree or a 16 foot white flocked Christmas tree. Pam had a nurturing side and it was best expressed by having a career as a caregiver. In 1979 Pam went back to school to obtain her nursing degree. She was a licensed LVN for 25 years.
Pam was predeceased by her father, Bill, mother, Marjorie Ann Powell (died 7/16/95) and her first born daughter, her beloved “Suzy,” Suzette Elizabeth Schmidt (died 11/23/14), Pam is survived by her daughters Lori Dostie (Joe) of Ceres, CA and Melissa Millecam (Derek), of Pittsburg, CA and her son, Anthony “Tony” Grassini of Martinez, CA. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Nathan Michael Schmidt, and Cory and Ashley Dostie. Pam had two great-grandchildren, Carter David Evan Schmidt and Asher Schmidt of Iowa who she wish she could’ve met. She was also survived by her 95 year old former mother-in-law, Millie Kost Smith who has been a faithful pen pal to her during the last years of her life and a son-in-law, David Jerome Schmidt of Las Vegas.
Pam was a ten year breast cancer survivor and was blessed that the cancer never returned. Her family will be holding a Celebration of Life in November. Pam’s wishes will be honored to have her ashes scattered in her beloved Grass Valley. As a child and as an adult, Myrtle’s farm was Pam’s favorite place on earth.
