An Obituary for Amazing Aunt Adele 

Adele Marie Destaillats passed away peacefully in her Sacramento, CA home on Memorial Day May 27, 2024, at the age of 98.   

Born Adele Marie Pèré in Arget, France on March 20, 1926; she was the 6th of 7 children.  Always the fun loving one, she was also not afraid of taking risks.  During the Nazi Occupation in Southern France in WWII she safely hid a brother and a friend in the woods.  After WWII she made the adventurous move to emigrate to the USA and she brought her oldest brother, Jean Anselme Pèré, with her in 1949.  Moving here became clear when she married Joe Destaillats in Reno on Oct. 20, 1949. They were married for 43 years.  Due to her father passing away when she was only 2 years old and growing up during the depression and WWII, Adele was one of the most empathetic and generous people you could hope to meet.  

She proudly became a naturalized American citizen in 1952 with the help of sponsors, whose children, Roger de Lusignan and Claudia Montee have since been an immense help to Adele.  

Joe and Adele first moved to Santa Cruz and then to Sacramento in 1963. They bought their last house in 1964 and this is where she passed away. She faithfully worked for the French Laundry and for UC Davis for many years. She retired in 1990 to take care of Joe before his passing in 1992.  She loved going out to restaurants, walking with friends, and going to Lake Tahoe as often as possible.   

She was predeceased by her parents, Armand and Henrietta Pèré. She was the last of the seven brothers and sisters to pass away.  Ever the faithful one, she never considered getting married again after Joe’s passing.  Although they had no children, Aunt Adele was wonderful with children.  Her Nephew and Niece Joe (Kerry) Peré and Lisa (Russell) Aldrich were highly blessed by her love and calm demeanor.  So were their children on many visits to Sacramento.  She stayed connected with her many nephews and nieces who live in France. Her brother, Jean, passed in 1979.  

A Mass will be held in her honor on July 10, 2024, 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1333 58th Street, Sacramento, CA 95819.  Adele loved her cats, and in lieu of flowers, she would appreciate any donation made to a local animal shelter.