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OBITUARY: Paulette “Debbie” Chiniaeff, 63, died September 3, 2010, at Rancho Springs Medical Center.
Ms. Chiniaeff was born February 13, 1947, in Riverside, California to Adolph James and Kathryn Lois Hamre. She graduated from U.C. Santa Barbara majoring in Social Work. She moved to Temecula in 1982 and operated a gift store in Old Town Temecula. In later years, she lived in Tustin and Santa Barbara where she was an innkeeper. She returned to Temecula in 2007 and helped with babysitting her twin grandchildren.
Debbie enjoyed cooking and was known for her gourmet meals. She loved cooking for her extended family and large gatherings. She was an avid reader, painter, and skilled craftswoman. She loved being a good mother and grandmother.
Debbie is survived by her mother Kathryn Hamre Deaner; brothers, Bill Hamre and James Hamre; sister, Karen Dietz; son, J.D. Chiniaeff; daughter Carissa Chiniaeff; daughter-in-law, Lisa Woodward; and two grandchildren Selene and Alexander Chiniaeff.
A poem from Debbie’s mother that hung on her wall summarizes her outlook on life:
“I’d like the memory of me
To be a happy one.
I’d like to leave an afterglow
Of smiles when life is done.
I’d like to leave an echo
Whispering softly down the ways,
Of happy times and laughing times
And bright and sunny days.
I’d like the tears of those who grieve,
To dry before the sun
Of happy memories that I leave
When life is done.”
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John Blair
Debbie was one of my best friends throughout Jr. High and High school, and also a very close friend of my sister Mary (EHS '63). Debbie lived only four houses away in our neighborhood. She was a very sweet and loyal person, someone you could count on to be there for you. Her birthday was February 13th, one day off from me and Mary, so we often celebrated our birthdays together. The only date we had in high school was the night her father, Jim, passed away. I will never forget dropping her off and getting the horrible phone call shortly after getting home. Death of a parent was something we had not experienced at that age. It was devastating for Debbie at the time, but she was a strong person. Debbie was also a leader - a very responsible and mature person for her age. She was definitely one of the standout people of our class. At UCSB Debbie met her future husband, Dennis Chinaeff. Dennis was a great track athlete and bright guy - specializing in urban development. We all had our kids at about the same time and we watched JD and Carrie grow up alongside out three boys. We we really close as couples in the early years of marriage. We must have helped Debbie and Dennis move 5 or 6 times! I remember because Dennis had lifetime a collection of National Geographic magazines which use lead in their paper to enhance the brilliance of their color photographs. Those boxes were heavy! Although Debbie and Dennis moved around California they always seemed to gravitate back to Orange County and we would reconnect every time. When their kids were in high school the finally setteled in the Temecula area. Debbie always wanted to be in business, especially fashion. She and Dave Mehl were the class representatives at the Harris Company in High School. Although Debbie tried many different things, she never seemed to succeed to her expectations. It was a sadness in her life - an unfulfilled dream. I last saw her at my sister Mary's house in Colorado. She was not in the best of health, but I was still shocked to learn of her passing a couple of years ago. I will always remember her loyal friendship.
Rozalinde Williams (Robinson)
Debbie reached out on Facebook to contact me several years ago. Provided some old pictures of us. Really enjoyed seeing the old pictures. I lived about two blocks from Debbie and remember many times driving her to school. Always a seat for my sister, Kit Sinn and Debbie. Seems I always had a car full...no seat belts, but it was full. We also carpooled to work at Harris -four of us were on the Campus Deb Board representing Eisenhower. Debbie, David, Pam Louden and myself. What fun we had and a great place to work. I remember Debbie won a contest sponsored by Seventeen Magazine. Won a trip to New York I think it was. She missed Baccalaureate but was back for Graduation. She even had her picture in the magazine the next month. She was famous in my book! AND, I remember she brought me back a gift...a gift I still have today. Great friend and a great person!! After I joined the reunion page I saw her name on the in memory section and looked for the obituary I found above.....so sad. Gone tooooo soon.