Lydia H Fretter

Lydia Howard Fretter passed away peacefully in her home July 13, 2019; alongside her was her daughter, her granddaughters and extended family. Lydia was born July 23, 1932 to Julio and Carolina Calderon in Richard Spur, Oklahoma, she was one of seven siblings and is preceded in death by her parents, her two brothers Alexander and Alfred, and her only sister Shirley. Lydia is survived by her brothers JR in Indiana and Michael Carretero and Daniel Jesse Carretero of Oklahoma and her children Robert "Bobby" Howard and Donna Babbitt of Cathedral City, California, Gary Howard and Joni Howard of Long Beach, California and Michael "Big Mike" Howard of Alaska, 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She loved being Nana to her grandchildren and always volunteered to be the babysitter. She enjoyed novellas and her music; she would often wake up the whole house with Johnny Cash or her Mexican music blaring. Lydia was a strong woman who moved from Oklahoma to California as a single mother of five children and started a new life. She was a very independent women up until a few years ago and needed a little extra help, her daughter and granddaughter were ready to step in and be there for Nana. Her kindness, meanness, quick wit & unique sense of humor made her who she was. She was the example and determination to her family. She is now at peace but losing her leaves a void in our lives that will never be replaced just filled with love & our own unique special memories of her.

Nana taught us many things, except how to live with out her…

Services will be held July 23, 2019, 3:00 pm at Forest Lawn, 69855 E. Ramon Road, Cathedral City, Ca. 92234