Celebrant Pam Meily Vetter


	Celebrating Life Everyone Has A Story...

Rene Alcides Erickson was born to his mother, Hilda, in El Salvador in 1960. His biological father owned several car dealerships. Growing up in Central America, Rene and his older brother, Joe, had two nannies and three servants. They were very well taken care of and lived a great childhood. The children were raised traditional Catholic and attended Sunday School and catechism classes. The family was musical. In fact, his mother gave Rene a love of music because she appreciated great music. Rene was very close with his grandfather, Alcides, who he was named after. His grandfather worked as Chief of Staff for the Presidential House for 17 years. He taught Rene about the electrical and mechanical workings of machines. He even installed lights in Rene's pedal car. One time, when he and his grandfather were working on a project that looked like a coffee grinder, they turned the crank and got the shock of their lives. Just like his grandfather, Rene was a problem solver from a young age. He took his wind-up toys to the sink and soaked them, only to figure out how the mechanism worked inside the toy.

In 1968, their mother moved with Rene and Joe to Whittier, California, living with their mother's brother. Rene was eight-years-old when they moved to the United States. His mother quickly found work at secretarial jobs. There was a language barrier at first, but Rene was determined to assimilate. He listened to cartoons and learned the English language. When Hilda met John James Erickson, a Vice President in furniture sales, it began a year-long courtship. Hilda finally accepted a date from John. She scrambled to find a babysitter, but she couldn't find one. John turned up at her doorstep with a model airplane and car as gifts for Rene and Joe. She said she couldn't go out because she was unable to find a babysitter, but John said he wasn't expecting a babysitter. Their first official date was when John took Hilda, Rene and Joe to Disneyland. The couple married a year later in 1970 and bought their home on Maple Street in Burbank. It was a lot like the film "Yours, Mine & Ours" with Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda. From their previous marriages, Hilda had two sons and John had two daughters and one son. Together, they made a new family and in 1971 they added another son, who they named Harry. Their family was complete.

Rene always saw John as his father, as he took the boys on as his own sons. John was a strict Navy father, who gave the kids responsibilities and chores. You had to be able to bounce a quarter off of your bed when you made it. In working on projects, his father offered sound advice saying, "Measure twice, cut once." It was a lesson in planning as well. He was close with his younger brother, Harry, who he joked around with when Harry least expected it. Rene once collected adoption brochures and convinced young Harry that he had been adopted through one of the agencies. Rene had quite a sense of humor. Rene acclimated to school in Burbank and did his best. He was athletic and the calves of his legs were strong because he loved running. He performed in the high school band, playing the clarinet and saxophone. His favorite music was always Jazz or Dixieland. A good student who was a driven perfectionist, Rene went on to graduate from John Burroughs High School. After high school, he worked in the family business at "Burbank Bookcase Systems" and the May Company. He also took classes at LA Trade Tech and Valley College. Sadly, when Rene was 19, his father died unexpectedly in 1979. His father was only 56-years-old. Rene thought he was the best dad in the world and he cried at his funeral. Rene became the rock in the family, always there to support everyone, especially his younger brother, Harry. Hilda, Rene and Joe took over the family business for a few years, but branching out on his own, Rene took his passion for all things mechanical and electrical and applied them to a 27-year career with Burbank Water and Power. From the moment he started with the City of Burbank in 1982 at the age of 22, he was a rocket moving up the ladder. When he applied for a new position, he created pie charts of questions he could be asked. He was prepared for every question and always earned the job. Self-taught in many ways, Rene researched everything so he could find an answer to any problem. And, he was a planner who never missed an appointment. He worked in several different departments with the City of Burbank over the years. His co-workers also knew him as the "Phone Ranger," because he could fix the phone systems when they weren't working. He learned voraciously as he took notes and tinkered, just like his grandfather.

Burbank is well known for creating close groups of friends and it was a friendship that led Rene toward marriage. Mary Hughes' brother, Tom, had married Marla, who was friends with Rene. It was through their Burbank group of friends that Marla introduced Mary to Rene. Mary had two young daughters, Jeni and Kasey. If anyone knew about the important role that adults can have in a child's life, Rene knew from his father's example of unconditional love and acceptance. It was Mary who asked Rene out for a date. She called him on the phone and asked him to go to the movies. He agreed. The couple started dating long distance because Mary and her children lived in Lake Elsinore. Over the next few years, he traveled back and forth on weekends to spend time with Mary and the girls. Finally, after being rained out of a camping trip in 2004, Rene wrapped his arms around Mary and said, "Let's get married." She said, "Yes," and the couple married in a lovely ceremony at the Castaway Restaurant in 2005. Mary and Rene's special song was "Fly Me to the Moon" by Frank Sinatra.

Their home was an oasis. Rene had saved up his money and bought the home in Burbank in 1998. He designed his plan in detail and expanded the property from 1,300 to 3,100 square feet. He also did the design for the hardscaping around the home. With the help of his contractor and childhood friend, Ron Johnson, known as "Corky" to his friends, Rene made his dream home a reality. Rene designed the house to be an entertainment place where everyone felt welcome. He wanted everyone to feel connected. It was his Camelot. He even did all of the wiring in the home. Family holidays such as Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas were celebrated in the home together. He was very connected to Jeni and Kasey. He celebrated the kids' birthdays, Valentine's Day, and every family event. For birthdays, he'd plan special things for the kids before they got up in the morning. On their special day, he'd get up at the crack of dawn and hang window clings on their side of the car to celebrate the special day. He also decorated their mirrors before they woke up. He even enjoyed making them laugh. Once he played an elaborate joke on Jeni when she got glasses at the age of 12. He went to the optometrist a day in advance and asked him to pretend that her glasses would be a huge pair of goggles. He got the biggest kick out of the big set up, as he was the mastermind of the plan. Jeni was so shy, she didn't know what to say to the optometrist and it was funny. After seeing the goggles, she liked the glasses that were meant for her. Jeni and Kasey called him Rene and he was a wonderful step-father, as he attended their sporting and Girl Scout events.

With many passions in life, Rene was a life long scuba diver. He earned his certification for scuba diving when he was in his 20s. Growing up, he loved watching Jacque Cousteau and he was very adventuresome. During his life, he completed more than a thousand dives. He'd go out to Channel Islands in Santa Barbara and bring back scallops and lobster for his mother and family. Over the years, he traveled throughout the Pacific Islands, diving in the exotic waters off many of the myriad of islands. He and Barry Heller, the photographer of the scuba diving group, were like-minded mechanically. They were like the Godfathers on the boat as well. When anything went wrong, they could fix it.

Enjoying the beauty of California's outdoors, Rene loved riding motorcycles, camping and hiking. He was also an avid marksman. Rene's love of camping dates back to his younger days with Mark and Joe. They especially enjoyed going to Mt. Whitney. Rene owned two motorcycles, which were regulation for the street, and he also owned dirt bikes. He'd go on trips with Mary and her brother's family camping. He even bought a small dune buggy for the girls and he ordered a custom wide trailer he drove back from Illinois. It was insulated and sturdy. He had the Durango retrofitted with a braking system to be used with that trailer. He always planned and thought ahead for every trip.

His favorite restaurant was Frontier Wok, as he liked Chinese food. He drank a cup of coffee every morning and he enjoyed drinking good German wine with his wife in the evening. With a love of animals, the dogs were his babies. He loved their dog, Bear, and especially their Shepherd-Lab puppy. He gave her the name "Shiva," which Rene said was the Hindu God of Death and Destruction. He really thought it through and it made sense for an energetic puppy. Rene was an avid Science Fiction reader and he enjoyed Science Fiction movies. He liked offbeat humor such as Monty Python, Weird Al Yankovic, and Dr. Demento. He had a dry sense of humor that made people laugh. He enjoyed making people laugh, as he could tell a joke that would surprise and entertain.

His mind was always working. When he did something, it was textbook. He worked on adding a decorative gate to his mother's house and it was on a slope. So, he had long measuring sticks and figured everything out so it would open properly for the slope. He did everything meticulously with extreme care and precise measurements. So much so, that people stopped and asked him for his business card. If you had an electrical problem, he'd rewire the whole house. He was detail-oriented and if he put his mind to something, he accomplished it. If you told him something couldn't be done - he would find a way. Rene was a good friend to so many people and he was respected. If someone needed him, he'd drop everything to help. If you went out to dinner with him, he always paid the bill quietly in the background so no one would feel uncomfortable when the bill came.

Only weeks ago, Mary and Rene had friends and family over to their home for a little Super Bowl party and Rene made chili for everyone. At gatherings, he was the one person in the room who quietly took in all the action. He'd stay quiet, analyze the situation and make sure everyone was involved and having fun. Rene had every other Friday off from work and he'd meet the retirement group for breakfast. On the Friday he passed, he met his friends for breakfast at Denny's and everything was normal. Mary talked to him at 8:15 and they said, "I love you," as Mary gave him a kiss before going to work. His passing was completely unexpected. Mary knew she was loved and that he was going to be there for her forever. While he was very private, he and Mary had a special relationship where they knew everything about each other. Many of their summer evenings were spent listening to Jazz at the Hollywood Bowl. They also celebrated their anniversaries quietly by going out to dinner together. Mary and the entire family will miss everything about Rene, especially his presence. His purpose in life was to teach people that it's okay to be accurate and stick to what you believe in. No one could sway him from his theories or opinions. He never had to be front and center, but instead he let others take the glory. He wasn't fond of taking credit for something himself.

There were so many dreams ahead. A detailed planner, Rene had worked for 27 years with the City of Burbank, most recently with the title of Electrical Supervisor, and he had planned to retire in seven years. He also dreamed of going on a month's vacation with Mary to Australia and Spain. He was looking forward to traveling in retirement. Rene's advice would be to cry your tears for a time, but go on with your lives, as he travels on alone. He was very factual in dealing with death as he saw himself as Agnostic. Like a scientist, if you couldn't prove it to him, it didn't exist. He was always the strong one, the one you turned to when you needed help. Rene Erickson will be remembered with smiles for the many treasured memories he leaves behind for his family and friends. The lights in Heaven are brighter and hearts forever touched. Honoring his request, he will be cremated and his ashes will be laid to rest near his father, John, and family members at Forest Lawn in Hollywood Hills.

Rene was preceded in death by his father John and his grandparents. He is loved and remembered by his wife Mary; step-daughters Jenilee and Kasey; mother Hilda; brothers Joe, Harry and Mark; sisters Leslie and Melinda; nieces, nephews, extended family, co-workers in the City of Burbank and many friends.

Memorial donations are welcome in Rene Erickson's name to the American Diabetes Association. Please specify for the donations to be used for Diabetes research and education by linking to www.diabetes.org.

To Those I Love

(Author Unknown)

When I am gone, release me. Let me go.
I have so many things to see and do.
You mustn't tie yourself to me with tears.
Be happy that we had so many beautiful years.

I gave to you my love. You can only guess
How much you gave to me in happiness.
I thank you for the love you each have shown,
But now it's time I traveled on alone.

So grieve a while for me, if grieve you must,
Then let your grief be comforted by trust
It's only for a while that we must part,
So bless the memories within your heart.

I won't be far away, for life goes on.
So if you need me, call and I will come.
Though you can't see or touch me, I'll be near.
And if you listen with your heart, you'll hear
All my love around you soft and clear.

And then, when you must come this way alone,
I'll greet you with a smile, and say -
"Welcome Home."