Anita L. Kowalski (Pongrace)June 14, 1926 - December 10, 2017Anita Louise Kowalski slipped into life on June 14, 1926 in Martinez, California. She joined the family of her parents, Steve and Fannie Pongrace and sisters, Pauline and Frances - a brother, Bill, was born later. Anita often spoke of how joyful it was growing up in that small East Bay town.

She graduated from Holy Names College in Oakland and became an Elementary School Teacher at the Mt. View School in Martinez. In 1949 she married Tom Kowalski, also from Martinez. They soon moved to La Canada, a suburb of Los Angeles. Anita taught Elementary School there while Tom completed his studies at Chouinard Art Institute, preparing for his life's work as an Architectural Designer.

They had five sons: Steve, Larry, Mike, John and Dan while living in La Canada. The family was busily involved with church, school, baseball, soccer, football, and scouts. Though residing in the L.A. area, the boys developed a lifelong passion for the San Francisco Giants (and thorough rejection of the rival Dodgers), owing in part to Anita's and Tom's Northern California roots.

When the boys were capable of doing their own laundry and cooking occasional meals, Anita went back to school. She earned her MA, her California MFCT license and her PhD in Psychology - in part due to her desire to cope with having five sons... She had a private practice and worked with staff and patients at Hospice in the L.A. area.

Anita and Tom moved to San Luis Obispo in 1988 to be near their son Larry, who owned two restaurants there - first, The Assembly Line in 1978, and later, Mo's Smokehouse Barbecue. Anita continued her own work at both local Hospices.

Anita drifted peacefully away from all of us on December 10, 2017, with family at her side. She was pre-deceased by her parents and her three siblings, her husband Tom, and her second-born son, Larry.

Anita is survived by sons Steve (Patti), Mike (Lynn), John (Janet), and Dan (Jennifer), as well as eleven Grandchildren - Stephanie, Brandon, Jenna, Tyler, Katie, Jamie, Cody, Madelyn, Emily, Payton, and Griffin, and new arrival, Great-Grandson Brody, who was lucky enough to meet his Great-Grandmother.

The Kowalski boys wish to extend a special "Thank-You" to Larry's wife, Lisa Kowalski of San Luis Obispo, who regularly visited Anita, plied her with good meals, and added to the quality of Anita's experience in the last couple years when she was unable to get up and about on her own. Lisa, Anita loved you with all her heart!

A sweet and joyful celebration honoring Anita's Life was held on March 17, 2018, at Cavallo Point Lodge at The Golden Gate, a sunny Spring day, befitting the abundant energy and happiness that Anita shared with all of us in her ninety-one-and-a-half years.