Gwenndolyn White

February 10, 1962 - February 28, 2020

Gwenndolyn Juliette White, 58, of Hercules passed away on February 28, 2020. She was born in San Francisco on February 10, 1962. Gwendolyn Juliette White graduated from Lincoln High and received a Masters from C.S.S.F. She was married to George Gregory Blake on July 18, 1999. Gwendolyn Juliette White had a career in Public Health for Contra Costa County. She has a passion for gift baskets and flowers. She was survived by husband George Gregory Blake. Funeral arrangements will be held at 11:00 am, March 14, 2020 at Rolling Hills Memorial Park and a Celebration of life at 1:00 pm at Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley. To leave an online condolence to the family, please visit our website at chapelofthechimes.com PLEASE SEE UPDATED MESSAGE BELOW IN REGARDS TO SERVICES Dear Family and Friends, I am very sorry to inform you that I received notice that an advisory has been issued from the public health department in Contra Costa County. Due to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) they are recommending that events involving 50 or more people be canceled or postponed. This is a recommendation not a mandate. While we will be moving forward the plans to honor Gwenndolyn on Saturday, March 14th with the Graveside Service at Rolling Hills Memorial Park at 11:00 a.m., and the Celebration of Life Ceremony at 1:00 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Berkeley, I feel I must make you aware of important information for you to make decisions about staying healthy. The recommendations from the health department are intended to slow the spread of COVID-19 by reducing the number of people who become infected, especially those at most risk for severe illness. Respiratory viruses need people close together to keep spreading. They recommend that: PEOPLE AT HIGHER RISK OF SERIOUS ILLNESS SHOULD AVOID MASS GATHERINGS OF 50 PEOPLE OR MORE • People at higher risk of serious illness should not go to mass gatherings such as religious services, celebrations where people are within arm’s length of each other and there are 50 or more people • Avoid people who are sick People at higher risk include: o People who are 50 years old or older. Current evidence indicates that the risk of severe illness increases with age. The highest risk group are those 80 years and older. o People of any age who have underlying medical problems such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, or chronic lung diseases like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) as well as those who are immunocompromised. Knowing this, we will take every precaution that we can to keep everyone safe. We are having all surfaces wiped down with special cleansers, and we will have hand sanitizers available for you. If you are feeling ill, please do not force yourself to attend out of a sense of obligation. We all must make decisions to keep ourselves and our families healthy during this virus outbreak. If you are feeling well and plan on attending, please remember these health promoting tips at the Celebration and in everyday life: • Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds • Bump elbows or bow instead of shaking hands • Cover coughs or sneezes with disposable tissue or the crook of an elbow • Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands • Use a barrier, such as a paper towel or tissue, to touch commonly touched surfaces, such as bathroom door handles and elevator buttons Again, please take the precautions you need to take to keep you and your family healthy. We are all doing our best to adjust to the complexities of the virus spread, and would not feel comfortable having you attend without understanding the most updated recommendations from the health department. Please share this message with family and friends who may be interested in attending the services for Gwenn this Saturday, March 14th. Sincerely, George