Cora Jean Wiegand
July 29, 1934-Feb. 24, 2016
Menlo Park, California
Cora Wiegand of Menlo Park and the world passed away peacefully in her home on Wednesday afternoon, February 24th, 2016 surrounded by family and friends.
Cora was born on July 29, 1934, in Glen Ullin, North Dakota, but lived most of her life in the warm sun of California, making her home on the Peninsula for nearly 50 years.
She is the extraordinary mother of four daughters: Johanna Harrison, Jean Wiegand, Susan Wiegand, and Jennifer Edwards. She will forever be the adored grandmother of her nine grandchildren. She is also survived by her four siblings, Gary, Rochelle, Valerie, and Robert, by too many friends and extended family to count, and by her beloved, Ron Silzer, of Menlo Park.
Cora was a dazzling member of her community, and a jewel at any event. She was known for her style and beauty, for her kindness and generosity, for her always positive energy and sense of fun, for her dancing feet, her interested conversation, and her steadfast dependability.
In recent decades she had been very active with The Peninsula Volunteers, and especially Little House, where every Tuesday for 14 years she greeted and checked in guests as they arrived for events, brightening everyone's day in the process.
Cora loved to travel, whether to a destination or to visit her daughters or friends. She loved movies and music and art and dancing and live theater, and was fearless in her willingness to attend even the most controversial work.
She was tireless in her pursuit of adventure, and miraculously was never arrested nor came to any harm. Did we mention she was charming? She was, but more important was her strength. Cora was a devoted friend, always where she needed to be, always the first and often the last to bring compassion and presence to others.
Until struck by cancer late in life, she was inexhaustible, always ready to take charge of grandchildren, or to get dressed up and find a small floor and a hot trio. But rock and roll is fine, too. Let’s dance!
