Lenora Ravenna Roehm, the “Food Lady of East County” and resident of Brentwood since 1961, passed away from this life on July 30 surrounded by her loving and devoted immediate family. Her passing – just weeks short of her 89th birthday – was the result of a massive heart attack.

A longtime resident of Brentwood, Lenora, the “Food Lady of East County,” was an unsung heroine: a member and active participant in the Delta Senior Center for decades; past president and district deputy president of The Rebeccas and also a member for 40 plus years; a member of the Byron Methodist Church for 45 years and provider of communion bread for 40 of those years; and Brentwood’s Citizen of the Year in 1990.

Lenora organized and administered the Brentwood Brown Bag Food Program; the local Contra Costa County Food Bank and Government Surplus Food program; the Byron Methodist Church Food Pantry; and was personally responsible for the annual Thanksgiving and Christmas food basket programs.

But her greatest accomplishment was being a loving mother and friend to her surviving children, Alberta Cates, Vernette Pato, Joyce Clark, George Roehm III and Adah Boone. She was preceded in death by her husband, George Roehm II, and her daughter, Joan Roehm. She is survived by nine grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, seven great-great-grandchildren, 23 foster children and a plethora of friends, family, extended family and acquaintances locally as well as worldwide.

Lenora touched the hearts of many as a friend and mentor. She was humble, generous in nature with her time and support, offering a helping hand in every way at her disposal, drawing on every option at hand. She never met a stranger. She was a regular at the Brentwood Café, where she held her own in the daily roundabout of politics and red-light runners; always adding anecdotes of Brentwood’s past. Her wisdom, wit, generosity, friendship and an incredibly positive outlook on life have left an indelible mark on all she touched.

A celebration of Lenora’s life was held on Saturday, Aug. 8 at the Byron Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in her honor to a food bank or charity of your choice.