Genoveva Reyes Taitano (known by friends as Genny) was 81 when she was called to paradise on Jan. 12, 2013. She was born Nov. 24, 1931 in the village of Garapan on the island of Saipan. She was the only daughter of Julian C. and Dolores B. Reyes.

Genny was a long-time resident of the Whidbey Island (Oak Harbor) and Skagit Valley (Mount Vernon) area. She came to Oak Harbor in 1967 with her husband Jose, their daughter Jane and son Joseph. She worked as a Sales Associate with the NAS Whidbey Seaplane Base Navy Exchange from 1974 until her retirement in 1990. The family moved to Mount Vernon in 1991. Genny was an active parishioner of both St. Augustine Catholic Church in Oak Harbor and Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Mount Vernon. She was an active participant in the weekly bible study and prayer group meetings. She was also fond of gardening and butterfly collecting. She also loved cooking and made the best fruit cake.

She is survived by her husband Jose T. Taitano, daughter Jane Zandofsky (John) of Anacortes and son Joseph Taitano of Mount Vernon. She is also survived by her grandchildren Zachary Zandofsky (Ijeva), Francesca Zandofsky and Britni Zandofsky; and great granddaughter Ahneira Zandofsky (daughter of Zack/Ijeva) all of Anacortes. She is also survived by her brother Vicente Blas Reyes (Martha) of Guam, sister-in-law Jesusa A. Reyes of Arizona; and numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces.

Funeral Mass for Genoveva will be held on Thursday, Jan. 17, at 12:15 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Mount Vernon. Burial services will follow at the Mount Vernon Cemetery. Reception after the burial will be at the Saint Joseph Center on 215 N 15th Street in Mount Vernon. Arrangements are under the care of Kern Funeral Home of Mount Vernon.