Lasting Memories

Lucette Sommer
1923-March 29, 2009
Menlo Park, California

Lucette Sommer of Menlo Park died peacefully March 29 at the age of 86.

Ms. Sommer was born in Morgan Hill to Lucien and Marcelle Decanniere, who had immigrated from Belgium following World War I.

She grew up in San Jose, and received degrees in education from San Jose State University and Stanford University. She returned to her alma mater high school in San Jose to become the youngest teacher the school ever had, teaching French, Latin and history, family members said.

Ms. Sommer met her future husband, Werner Sommer, at UC Berkeley in 1949. She was attending summer school; he was a graduate student, studying international law and public affairs. As residents of International House, they sat at the French-speaking dining table.

Married in 1952, the Werners lived in Africa, Greece, Switzerland, Germany, England and Belgium before settling in Menlo Park. Ms. Sommer became a volunteer for Stanford Children's Hospital, working three days a week to prepare donations for the yearly rummage and fine arts sales.

Ms. Sommer spent the last year of her life at the Silverado Memory Resource Center, a home for people with Alzheimer's disease. Many there remember her speaking French and giving French lessons, say family members. Mr. Sommer visited her every day.

Ms. Sommer is survived by her husband, Werner, and her daughter, Lisa.