Letha Augusta Reents Newman

July 5, 1955 – July 21, 2022

As a rainbow brings beauty to our lives, we recognize that we have survived the storm. With the turbulence behind us, we awaken to blue skies with the promise of the calm and joy that has been prepared before us. May her soul rest in peace.

Letha Newman, beloved wife, mother, cousin, “aunt”, and friend, passed away at Los Alamitos Medical Center on Thursday July 21, 2022, from cardiac arrest. She leaves behind her husband, Paul, and daughters Natalie and Marissa.

An only child, Letha was welcomed into this world by Henry Reents, a German immigrant, and his wife Aurora “Lily” in Lakewood, CA. She attended Saint Cyprian Elementary School and Saint Joseph High School. She later received an associate degree in business.

Letha started her career working at Bank of America, first as a bank teller and later as an Executive Secretary in the commercial real estate department in downtown Los Angeles. In late 1979, Letha met Paul through a church group. They fell in love and were married on May 22, 1982. Paul and Letha bought a house together in Downey in 1983 and lived there until 1993 when they bought their forever home in Cypress. They were blessed with their first daughter, Natalie, on October 13, 1988, and their second daughter, Marissa, on June 28, 1991.

Letha left Bank of America in 1988 to become a full-time mother. She restarted her career in 1997 for the City of Cypress, where she would spend the next 25 years working for the Parks and Recreation department. In Cypress, Letha fulfilled her passion for children by teaching preschool for more than 20 years and achieving an accreditation in Child Development. More recently, she worked at the Senior Center and supported the Meals on Wheels program where she continued to spread joy to the elderly community.

Letha loved to travel and was able to visit five continents, including her bucket list trip To Australia and New Zealand with Paul in 2018. Other highlights include multiple excursions throughout Europe, visits to Ghana, Africa, the Galapagos Islands, and her many trips with Paul to the Hawaiian Islands, Central Coast, and Santa Barbara, where they honeymooned.

Over the years, Letha fostered her artistic side by gardening, painting, crafting, and decorating the home she loved. In painting, she found an outlet for her creativity. Letha started with tole painting and expanded to encompass nearly all types of painting – watercolor, canvas, rocks, and glass. She painted beautiful watercolor custom cards for her loved ones. Her favorite subjects mirrored the things she loved: flowers, plants, trees, butterflies, and birds.

Letha was a joyful soul that appreciated the small things in day-to-day life. She will be dearly missed by those she touched.

Those wishing to contribute may donate to the American Cancer Society or City of Hope.

Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401