ERCIE MAE BARSI Mae went home to be with her Lord Jesus Christ Wednesday, February 1, 2006 in Oakland, CA at the age of 89 years young. She joins her husband, Guido "Joe" Barsi, and many loving family members already celebrating in the presence of God. She is survived by her daughter, Mary Ida Barsi, and loving family members and friends. She was born in Cleburne, Texas, May 13, 1916 and moved with her family to California in 1924. She was one of nine children born to Andrew Jackson Giles and Ida Belle Lee Giles. She graduated from Oakland High School and went on to Beauty College and opened her own shop, Mae's Beauty Shop. After marrying Joe the neighborhood barber, she became a housewife and mother. She was a very active member of Brookside Baptist Church serving in the choir, playing the piano and organ, teaching, organizing, cooking, and leading women's circle groups and committees. In 1960, her husband suffered a stroke and she began 17 years of care giving. During those years, Mae worked at various jobs including selling beauty products and Tupperware, making jewelry, washing and ironing, cleaning houses, child care, and eventually returned to the work force full time as a receptionist for Piedmont Gardens. Upon retirement, Mae chose to live at Grand Lake Gardens where she enjoyed making friends, serving as President of the Resident Council, Chairperson of the Vesper committee, and a member of various committees. Mae was a woman of many talents and abilities. She loved to sew, knit, crochet, needlepoint, decorate, sing, garden, and bake. At the time of her passing, she was a beloved member of the Evangelical Free Church of Oakland. Private funeral services were held and interment was at Mountain View Cemetery on Tuesday, February 7, 2006. A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 25, 2006 at Evangelical Free Church of Oakland, 6022 Seminary Avenue, Oakland, CA at 11:00a.m. The family requests no flowers but donations to the following charities: Evangelical Free Church of Oakland, Pathways Hospice, or the Center for Bioethics.