LIVINGSTON, Delphine (Meister) Passed away peacefully in Petaluma, CA on November 6, 2016 at the age of 92. She was born on September 24, 1924 in the farming community of Grizzly Bluff near Ferndale, CA. Her parents, Oscar and Thekla Meister, were immigrants from Switzerland and Austria. They owned a small ranch raising chickens and selling eggs to neighbors. At the age of 12, Delphine recalled driving her father's truck to deliver chickens to Arcata. After high school, she studied clerical work at Merritt College in Oakland. On a bus ride back home, she met Gene Livingston from Scotia and married him in 1947. They were married for 19 years and had eight children. Gene became a fireman with the City of Eureka but died at the young age of 44. Delphine carried on, building the foundation of love, faith, education, independence, and self-reliance that she instilled in all her children and has sustained them throughout their lives. She worked hard to provide her children with a good Catholic upbringing, being very active in St. Bernard's Parish and the American Association for Retarded Children. In 1974, when her son Paul was nine years old, she made the difficult decision to place him in a foster home for children with special needs. She then moved her family to Petaluma to be near Paul and live in a climate with "lots of sunshine". In Petaluma, she established a new life for her family, becoming active in St. James Parish. In her 50s and 60s Delphine began taking ballroom dance classes. She would gather her friends and drive them to the tea dances in Oakland. It was at a dance where she met her long-time companion Terry Warford. Together they enjoyed traveling to many places including Calcutta, India where she visited Mother Theresa's hospital for the poor. Delphine remained independent and she enjoyed daily walking, taking road trips with her son Paul to see her other children, gardening, flower arranging and baking. She became known for her beautiful California poppy garden, English toffee, and a fresh batch of carrot salad in the refrigerator. Delphine was a truly Christian woman who donated her later years to charity. She especially liked volunteering at the Petaluma Hospice's "Sax Thrift Avenue". She also continued participating in annual family reunions, camping well into her 80s. When she was 86 she moved into Sunrise Assisted Living. She enjoyed socializing with the residents and staff. You could often find her offering free back scratches, sweeping up after dinner, or assisting in flower arranging classes. Delphine was preceded in death by her husband Gene, sons Paul and Robert, and her siblings Anna, Josephine, and Oscar. She is survived by her children Jeanette, John, George, Mark, Mary and David. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Sunrise for the loving care they gave Delphine over the past three years. A Catholic mass at St. James Parish will be said Saturday, November 19 at 12:00 noon, followed by a reception at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Petaluma, 416 Payran Street, Petaluma, CA 94954 phone 707-778-6242.