Irene Goldie Harasta

Irene "Goldie" Harasta, 98, passed away surrounded by dear family on Saturday, June 22, 2019, at Adventist Health Glendale. She was born in Detroit, Michigan, on Valentine's Day of 1921 to Julia Nays and Camil Sehovich. The family relocated to Glendale, California, when Goldie was 6 years old.
Goldie was just 16 when she met the love of her life, Robert Andrew Harasta. In 1953, she and her husband, Robert, moved to their beloved home in Eagle Rock where Goldie lived the remainder of her life. Together they created a family of seven beautiful children, 18 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, whom she boasted were her greatest accomplishment and legacy.
Goldie was a true "Renaissance woman". In her teens and young adulthood, she was a renowned dancer who studied under Ruth St. Denis, a famous modern dance instructor. After her husband's sudden passing in 1960, she owned and managed B.H. Tank, one of the most successful water tank companies in California, while raising her children. She was an advocate for holistic living, religious exploration and civil rights. She was a woman who accepted everyone and would remind all those around her of their beauty and her love for them.
Goldie was a 1938 graduate of Belmont High School in the Los Angeles Unified School District. At age 53, she graduated from Cal State Los Angeles with an Art Major in the class of 1973, the same year her daughter, Susan, graduated from the same university. The family was featured in the Eagle Rock Sentinel because Goldie and Susan graduated from college while daughter, Phyllis, graduated high school and daughter, Kim, graduated middle school.
Goldie was iconic in many ways. She is dearly missed and will remain in our memories forever. Her family will never forget opening the door to find Goldie waiting on the couch with a big smile. She was a true believer that angels were all around her and we know we will forever have an angel watching over us.
She's survived by her children, Joan Young, Susan Harasta, Latidjah Ramsey Miller (Hamilton), Robert Andrew Harasta Jr. (Laura), Sharon Harasta, Phyllis Harasta (Glenn Harris) and Kim Thompson Orlowski (David); grandchildren, Nicole Young, Stacie Arana, Lisa Woodhouse, Jonathan Stein (Leah), Lukman Ramsey (Amy Listerman), Joe Ramsey (Gina), Mukhtar Ramsey, Laura Nasser (Mehdi), Bennett Miller (Isabella), Rich Miller, Andrew Harasta, Sarah Vilmar (Kazmo), Anne McCloy, Richard Thompson Jr., Tyler Thompson (Erin), Lauren Orlowski and Macy Orlowski; great-grandchildren, Eric Alvarado, Joseph Alvarado, Matthew Olivas, Riley Cobos, Logan Woodhouse, Solomon Stein, Lily Listerman Ramsey, Walter Listerman Ramsey, Serena Ramsey, Benjamin Ramsey, Irfan Nasser, Anne Thompson, Joshua Thompson, Brian Thompson, Andrew Thompson, Ethan Thompson and Odon Harasta; three nieces and many cousins. She is preceded in death by parents, Julia Nays and Camil Sehovich; beloved husband, Robert Andrew Harasta Sr.; sister, Ruby Lombardo; cousin, Doris Johnson; and dear grandson, Mark Orlowski. Funeral services Monday, July 1, 2019 at 2pm. Forest Lawn - Glendale, Church of the Recessional.