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Subject: [CAKern] Re: OBIT: MALENA, JENNY ANN
Date: 8 Aug 2003 15:59:22 -0600

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Daily Independent July 31, 2003
IN HONOR OF JENNY, "MRS. MINNIE MOUSE"

Some people are meant to be together.
Like the cartoon characters, Raymond and Jenny Malena enjoyed life side by side, often dressing in "Mickey and Minnie Mouse" theme outfits when they traveled.
Together they collected literally thousands of "Mickey and Minnie" toys and memorabilia. Their house is densely "Moused" and has been called "the mouse house" by friends.
Jenny passed away Saturday, quietly and in her sleep. She was 61. A hospice representative was there, comforting family members during Jenny's last days. Family members wanted to honor her with a story to tell people what was so special about her.
The couple's story begins back in high school, when they met. Raymond remembers the occasion clearly.
"I met Jenny in Hereford, Texas. She was walking across the high schoool grounds and she was 15 years old in 1957." Raymond smile, remembering how she looked.
Her younger sister, Freda Kubas of Glennville, also remembered that time.
"He used to come over and entertain us kids and bring us candy. He did tricks on chairs so he could kiss our sister." said Kubas.
"She had kissable lips," said Raymond, grinning.
But life took the pair in different directions. They caught up with each other again later in life and finally married.
"God brought Raymond back to her nine years ago. I guess because He knew she was going to need Raymond, and he's been wonderful to her," said Kubas. "They were childhood sweethearts."
Those nine years were packed with family, friends, hobbies and good memories, including the Mickey and Minnie Mouse collection. A back room of their house was supposed to (be) the "Mouse room," but soon overflowed.
Today, the mice have taken over every room. Walls are covered with framed posters. Their dishes, lamps, telephone - all are Mickey and Minnie. Mouse figurines cover every horizontal surface. Shelving circles every room near the ceiling with just enough space for Mouse dolls and stuffed toys in their original see-through boxes. Even the toaster plays the Disneyland theme song when the thoast pops up.
Friends sometimes brought over a Mickey or Minne they'd found at a yard sale.
Raymond described finding Mouse toys on the purch, dropped off by friends. All were brought in to join the collection and display space was found or created.
"It's been so much fun. We always pay them back," said Raymond. Even if they already had ten or twenty of that item, the couple welcomed the mice in, just as they welcomed friends in need.
"We didn't have many toys as children, so she was reliving her childhood, in her own Disneyland," said Kubas, gesturing around the colorful room. "Her favorite song was It's a Small World. We wanted to honor her.
"We came from a family of 11 kids, Jenny was born in Phoenix, Arizona on April 1, 1942. We moved to Bakersfield around 1944." said Kubas.
"Dad ran out of gas near Tehachapi and the police department gave him enough money to get to Bakersfield and that's where we settled.
"It was like the Grapes of Wrath. We wereone of the first families in the Arvin labor camp.We picked cotton,peaches and grapes.
"Dad died in 1951 leaving eight kids still alive for Mom to take care of. Jenny worked very hard to educate herself."
Jenny used that education to care for others.
"She was a registered nurse and took care of the elderly in Sun City, Arizona over 15 years. She entertained in costumes at their parties. She was always entertaining them. She wore a clown costume and did magic tricks. She also entertained children," said Kubas.
"She helped everyone who needed it and no one was turned away from her door, no one.
Jenny later worked as a private nurse in Gorman, for the wife of the owner of Ralph's Supermarkets. While she worked for the Ralphs, she traveled with them to Germany, France and Hawaii.
Later, she worked for Forethought, Inc. in Bakersfield, a company that handles prepaid funeral plans. She moved to Ridgecrest in 1999. Prior to her illness, she was the Forethought representative for Holland & Lyons Mortuary.
Among the couple's other hobbies were attending yard sales and collecting modern first edition books. Their greatest joy was spending time together.
"She told him, 'I love you more than life'. He has been so good to her," said Kubas.

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