In Our Care
Venerable Dharma Master Chi Hoi
Funeral Service
Sunday April 13th at 10:00 AM
The 45th generational patriarch of Tiantai Sect, Founder of Foshan Temple / Buddhist Wisdom Lecture Hall in San Francisco, Venerable Dharma Master Chi Hoi has completed his conditions with the mundane world by 3:30 AM on April 3, 2025 (lunar sixth day of the third month), at the Tien Tai Buddhist Academy, Fairfield, California, USA.
Having achieved fulfillment of his vows to spread the Dharma, he manifested Stillness admidst mindful recitation of the Buddha's name by the assembled disciples.
The Master was born on November 17, 1926 AD (lunar 13th day of the tenth month). In 1942, he ented monastic life at Zifu Temple in Hongluo Mountain, Huairou, Beijing.
He received the Full Precepts during winter of 1944, under the Venerable Xian Jong at Guangji Monastery, Beijing.
The Master was blessed with nearly 100 years worldly lifespan, 83 years of monastic and 81 years of Precept ages.
Following the Monastic Precepts, the Master's Dharma Progeny personally attend to the funeral protocal, paying special respect to his instructions to follow brevity in all matters. We hereby also request Dharma Masters of other Buddhist Monasteries to observe the Master's wishes, and keep long distance traveling to a minimum.
Memorial ceremony and cremation will be held April 13, 2024 (lunar March 16th) at 10 AM at Fernwood Cemetery and Funeral Home: 301 Tennessee Valley Rd, Mill Valley, CA 94941.
Sincerely,
Venerable Dharma Master Chi Hoi Remembrance and Praise Committee.
Mary Louise Kieser
August 24, 1931 - February 17, 2025
A Life of Grace, Love, and Devotion
Mary Louise Kieser, aged 93, of Atherton, California, passed away peacefully on February 17, 2025, of natural causes. Born on August 24, 1931, in Los Angeles, California, Louise was the cherished adopted daughter of Martin Stuehr, who lovingly raised her after marrying Gernie Trook, her natural mother.
Louise spent her formative years in San Francisco, where she graduated from Balboa High School. She initially pursued a career in modeling, a path that reflected her elegance and poise. However, beyond her professional endeavors, she found true fulfillment in her love for animals, antiques, and, most importantly, her family.
On December 31, 1959, in Honolulu, Hawaii, she married the love of her life, Charles Kieser. Together, they built a life filled with devotion and shared adventures, remaining steadfast partners until Charles's passing on October 30, 2002.
Louise was a devoted mother to her five children: Mark Mohr, Kris Kieser, Candice Kieser, Charles Kieser, and Frederick Kieser and her three stepchildren Steve Kieser, Scott Kieser and Marcy Kieser. She is survived by her direct and stepchildren Mark, Kris, Frederick, Steve and Marcy who will continue to cherish and honor her memory.
Louise's compassionate spirit extended beyond her family. She had a deep love for animals and supported causes that reflected her generous heart. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, The Salvation Army, or the SPCA of Marin County, organizations that embody the kindness and care she valued throughout her life.
Her warmth, wisdom, and unwavering love will be dearly missed but forever remembered by those who had the privilege of knowing her.
Anette Marie Schou Falkner
Celebration of Life: Saturday, March 22, 2025, from 11 am - 1 pm
November 24, 1959 - January 27, 2025
Anette passed away peacefully at home in Tiburon, CA. She was laid to rest in a private green burial service at Fernwood Funeral Home in Mill Valley. Her final resting place is nestled high upon the hillside, beneath Eucalyptus trees, native to Australia and Acacia trees, native to both Africa & Australia and overlooks Tennesse Valley, Mount Tamalpais, San Francisco Bay and is protected by Quan Lin, the Buddhist Goddess of Compassion.
She was the beloved daughter of Bent and Pia, cherished sister to Bertil, and proud aunt to Amy and Keith. Anette will be remembered with love by her family, her godchildren, her event team, her beloved cats and her wide circle of friends from across the world!
Born in Perth, Australia, to a Danish father and Swedish mother, Anette was a true citizen of the world. By the time she was ten years old, she was fluent in three languages, a testament to her intelligence and natural curiosity. Her adventurous spirit, vibrant personality, and generosity of heart made her a treasured friend and confidante to all who knew her.
She attended the British School of Brussels in Belgium, went on to culinary studies at Oxford College in England and after moving to the United States, she received a degree at the University of Texas. Anette's professional journey was equally impressive. As a top account executive at Maritz Global Travel, she spent much of her career canvasing the globe, curating unforgettable experiences for her clients and sharing the joy of discovery with everyone around her. She had a keen eye for detail and an unwavering commitment to excellence in everything she did.
While Anette thrived in her jet-set lifestyle and was a proud member of the Million Mile Club, she also found solace and joy in the simpler moments of life. Nothing made her happier than curling up by the fire at home, surrounded by her beloved cats, savoring good food and wine, and spending quality time with those who were closest to her heart.
Anette lived life on her own terms, with grace, courage, and an open heart. Her unique spirit will be greatly missed, but her legacy of kindness, joy, and laughter will continue to inspire all who were fortunate enough to know her. A Celebration of Life will be held at Fernwood Funeral Home, 301 Tennesse Valley Road, Mill Valley, CA on Saturday, March 22, 2025, from 11 am - 1 pm.
In lieu of flowers, please donate in her memory to the Marin Humane Society https://marinhumane.org, WWF https://protect.worldwildlife.org/ or the Wonderbag Foundation https://www.wonderbagworld.com/donate
Michael Frier
Michael Frier died at age 32 while seeking medical care in the San Francisco Bay Area, just as he was formulating his own ambitious goals for improving the health system.
Michael was an accomplished nurse, with ambitions for overhauling the mental health system to be more compassionate and personalized. He was also a loving and kind person, and a devoted son, brother and uncle. He persevered through many of life’s difficulties – including his dangerous premature birth in Los Angeles – to become a beacon of positive energy with a strong drive to help others, and a special appreciation for all things food, music, nature and fun.
As a toddler, after a severe fall from a swing, he sang show tunes in the emergency room while receiving multiple head stitches. As a young child, he reveled in getting covered head to toe in mud on a family hike. Starting around 8 years old, he would regularly remark that whatever he was eating was “the best food I’ve had in 16 years.” He loved parties and live music, but was rarely discouraged by being alone. He could find peace in the woods with a guitar; as an adult, he took up running. He always sang in the shower. A handwritten note in his bedroom reads: “Dance like no one is watching.”
Michael could dream big. He was easily inspired to learn and do more with his life, and often meditated on what his higher purpose should be, and how best to achieve it – always coming back to the theme of helping enact positive change. Healthcare and teaching were consistent passions. But after a peaceful afternoon playing an instrument with new friends at a park, or collaborating on an electronic composition with his brother, he would sometimes discuss taking a break to be a musician or music therapist. He dabbled in photography, yoga, Buddhism, bible studies and more.
He was at home in a classroom or with a textbook, disciplined in expanding his understanding of science and the arts, and would ponder what he learned during walks on the beach or on the Bay Area’s many hiking trails. He also sought out mentorship and deep conversations with colleagues, and even his students and patients.
Michael graduated from Mountain View High School in 2011 and received a Bachelor of Arts in public health from the University of California, Berkeley in 2016. During the Covid-19 pandemic, in January 2021, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Ursuline College and started working in hospitals. He was in the process of becoming a Doctor of Nursing Practice at the University of California, San Francisco, while also working as a nurse at Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Behavioral Health Center.
Michael could have been deterred by his mental health struggles. Instead, he was motivated to help others with similar problems, and work on systemic reform. His final paper at UCSF explored how mental health care could be so much more preventative, focused on the entire context of a person’s life, beyond or in addition to pharmaceutical intervention. He believed in helping people achieve their goals through understanding of nutrition, exercise, nature, meditation, community and music.
Recently, Michael accepted an adjunct position at San Jose State University teaching behavioral health nursing, hoping he could help instill a passion for compassionate care. He had also started working as a lifestyle coach. He was trained in Rogerian peer counseling, focused on unconditional positive regard. He had a knack for taking a dinner conversation in a deeply philosophical direction within seconds, and was planning to write publicly about his insights.
Still, he didn’t take himself too seriously. Michael was a devoted uncle to his four small nephews, directing them in spontaneous racing across fields, jumping on furniture, loud singing, and general silliness. His dinosaur and monkey impressions will be particularly remembered. The week before his death, Michael celebrated his 32nd birthday with his family. When asked what he wanted as a gift, he asked for more time with the kids. He is survived by his parents, Laura Casas and Ken Frier, and his siblings, James Frier and Sarah Frier.
Family and friends of Michael are invited to attend a funeral service on Feb. 22 at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Los Altos, beginning at 11:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider sending a donation to the Michael Frier Behavioral Nursing Scholarship Fund at UCSF, to help train others who can lead change with compassion, one patient at a time.
https://giving.ucsf.edu/fund/michael-frier-behavioral-health-nursing-scholarship
Jackson Claflin Stromberg
Surrounded by family, Jackson (Jack) Claflin Stromberg passed away in his Mill Valley, CA home on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. He was 88 years old.
Jack was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico to Jackson C. Stromberg Sr., whose family had recently immigrated from Germany, and Jeanette Stromberg who could trace her lineage back to 1619 Jamestown. With little formal education, Jack Senior used his training as a tailor to become a successful entrepreneur building a men’s clothing business in the growing southwestern city. Jeanette put herself through Mount Holyoke College by working as a librarian. Once back in Albuquerque, she became a committed community volunteer and eventually a philanthropist who is remembered for her passion for education. The Jeanette Stromberg Library at the Community College of New Mexico is a source of family pride.
The combination of their father’s work ethic and mother’s love of learning were instilled in Jack and his two sisters, Gretchen and Ilsa, and younger brother, Kurt, at an early age. In high school, Jack became a ribbon-winning calf-roper, captain of his football team, long-jump record holder, and class valedictorian. After what he remembered as his ”idyllic” childhood, Jack left New Mexico to attend Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire.
At Dartmouth, Jack majored in philosophy, competed on the track team, skied alongside the Dartmouth Ski Team, and proudly belonged to Casque and Gauntlet, a senior society devoted to the “fellowship of men.” He was active in the rich intellectual life at Dartmouth and made many lifelong friends at his beloved “college on the hill.”
After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Dartmouth, Jack was selected to become a Rhodes Scholar. He studied philosophy at the University of Oxford in England where he met his soon-to-be-wife, Elizabeth Hoem. Born during World War II and raised in the reconstruction of war-torn Norway, Elizabeth was sent to England to study business at St. Clare’s Hall. There Jack and Elizabeth were introduced by Jack’s friend and fellow Rhodes Scholar, Kris Kristofferson. For years afterward, Kris teased that Jack had stolen Elizabeth from him, but Jack was smitten from day one and insisted, “Kris was never even in the competition.”
After Oxford and their wedding in Norway, Jack and Elizabeth moved to the U.S. where Jack attended Stanford Law School eventually becoming an editor of the Stanford Law Review. After Jack graduated from Stanford in 1963, he became a corporate lawyer at Thelen, Marrin, Johnson & Bridges in San Francisco. He, Elizabeth, and their new baby daughter moved to Mill Valley where they put down roots and would remain for the rest of their lives.
Jack soon rose to become a partner at Thelen, Marrin, Johnson & Bridges, where he specialized in corporate and securities law. He was recruited by Bechtel Enterprises, Inc. to become their Assistant General Counsel under Casper Weinberger. Jack was soon tapped to become Treasurer of Bechtel Group, Inc. then he became Senior Vice President of Bechtel Corporation, and eventually was promoted to President of Bechtel Financing Services, Inc. where he was responsible for global project financing and development and ownership of various Bechtel projects. He retired as Managing Director and Executive Vice President of Bechtel Enterprises, Inc.
Jack served on the Board of Trustees of the World Affairs Council of Northern California, was a member of the San Francisco Committee on Foreign Relations. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the British American Chamber of Commerce, served on the Advisory Committee of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, and was a member of the Board of Directors of J.P. Morgan Securities Asia, Ltd.
Beyond his illustrious career, Jack was also an adventurer. He traveled to nearly every continent and was an avid skier. He spent endless days skiing the terrain at Squaw Valley in Tahoe (now The Palisades). He was also a regular at CMH (Canadian Mountain Holidays) where he skied over 1M vertical feet of Heli-Skiing. He only stopped skiing in his late ‘70s when his doctor told him his knees and hips couldn’t take much more. Jack also loved golf. He was a regular at The Meadow Club in Fairfax and loved the camaraderie and sportsmanship that golf brought into his life, especially after retirement from Bechtel.
While he nurtured his friendships and was exceptional in maintaining them, family was also a priority for Jack. He and Elizabeth had three children, Lisen, Chet, and Kirsten. He was a father who loved debating at the kitchen table and opening his children to a wider world. At the same time, he could make you laugh at his quirky, silly jokes, and see the world through his optimistic approach towards life. He and Elizabeth created many great family traditions in Mill Valley and Lake Tahoe that will be sorely missed. They were lucky to have six grandchildren nearby and two more in Italy who visited frequently.
Jack’s strong character and high integrity were personal hallmarks. He was a heroic partner to Elizabeth when she was diagnosed with PSP (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy) five years before her death in 2020. Their relationship was always loving, but when Elizabeth’s health declined precipitously, his love and care for her were truly inspiring. Though he wasn’t a religious person himself, he recognized Elizabeth found great strength in her church community and he regularly joined her on Sundays and participated in church activities. He loved international travel, as did Elizabeth, but when she could no longer travel far from home, he planned short trips for her enjoyment.
Jack Stromberg will be remembered for his devotion to family and friends, consistent enthusiasm and optimism in life, and insatiable curiosity, all anchored in a value system that guided his everyday actions. He was a friend to many, a role model to all, and an example of a life well-lived.
He leaves behind his daughters, Lisen and Kirsten Stromberg; son, Chet Stromberg; son-in-law, Bill Rossi; and grandkids: Will, Maret, and Soren Rossi; Savanna, Graydon, and Caleb Stromberg; and Kai and Liam Ridolfi. Known as “Daddy Daddy” to all, he will be deeply missed.
Family and friends will be gathering at the Meadow Club on December 21st for a Celebration of Jack Stromberg’s Life. If you would like to join us, please RSVP here.
For those who can’t attend, in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to The International District Library, the All Faith’s Children Advocacy Center , or to your preferred charity in his name.
