Herta Chikato

Longtime Glendale resident, Herta Chikato, died peacefully in her sleep at her Verdugo Woodlands home on June 21, 2013. Born Herta Loster on 2/19/39 in East Germany, she immigrated to the U.S. in 1958. She quickly learned English, studied about America and became a proud U.S. citizen. Shortly after, she met her husband of 41 years, Melvin Steve Chikato who preceded her in death in 2000. Melvin was an avid outdoorsman and introduced his new bride to his first love. The couple spent their honeymoon Trout Fishing in the Eastern Sierra. They raised their two sons in a loving and stable home. The young family enjoyed the outdoors together, returning regularly to the Sierra for family fishing trips. Later the boys added hunting with their father and his brothers to their outdoor adventures.

Herta was a remarkable cook. She was able to work magic on any type of game her men brought home. Venison, Doves, Quail, Rabbits, even a Bob Cat were all prepared to excellence by her skilled and loving hands. She often said she put love in all her creations. You certainly could taste the love! Besides cooking, she was also an avid gardener, very organized and had a keen business sense-skills she used to manage the family's real estate investments right up until her death. She was diagnosed with the early stages of heart failure last fall. Although her death was not anticipated so soon, it was likely due to cardiac arrest. Her wish was to die peacefully in her sleep, at home, and in her own bed. Not unlike the way she managed her adult life, Herta was able to leave this world on her own terms.

She is survived and greatly missed by her two remaining sisters, Hilde Lutton and husband Robert of Arcadia, Elsa Weber of Montebello, her children, Melvin John and James A. Chikato, Jim's wife, Jennifer; and their children, Blake, Bryce, Jessie, and Brady, all of whom reside in Acton.

A service and burial will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 27, 2013 at the Church of the Recessional, Forest Lawn Memorial-Park, Glendale. All friends and family are invited to celebrate her life.