Erlinda Perez Svendsen was born in Carpinteria, California in 1926 and grew up in Orcutt and Santa Barbara.  Erlinda's dream career was to be a nurse and she attended nursing school in Montana for 4 years. As World War II was raging, her goal was to join the war efforts as a registered nurse.  The war ended before she could graduate so she she worked at hospitals around California such as Cottage Hospital, UCSF and Stanford in Pediatrics.

She traveled extensively and lived in various countries for months at a time.  She always wanted to expand her horizons and learn about the music and daily life of other cultures.  A wife and mother,  Erlinda is survived by her husband Gordon and their children Janice and Mark.

Erlinda's life reflected love and compassion, strength and dignity and a strong, stubborn determination to achieve the best she could for her children. Her dreams and aspirations live on in her children now. Erlinda Perez Svendsen died on November 8, 2021 at home in Belmont, California.  She lived 95 years and made a positive difference in our world.  May God be with her as she begins her heavenly life.  She will be greatly missed.