Juanita Adams

Hazel "Juanita" Adams
A beloved mother, sister, sister-in-law, grandmother, great grandmother and dear friend, Adams gained her wings on May 26, 2022, in Visalia, Calif., at the age of 96.
Best known as "Juanita," the soft spoken "Quilting Lady," she was born Oct. 10, 1925, in Arkansas as the first of Inez and Floyd Ellenberg's four children. She married L.B. Adams in 1947, and they had two children.
Juanita will always be remembered for her generosity toward others, her compassion for quilting and her love of the Red, White and Blue. On any given day, you would find Juanita in her many Red, White and Blue outfits. 
Juanita was so patriotic, and so proud of fellow Arkansas native Bill Clinton when he was elected President of the United States in 1992, that she hand-crafted him a quilt and personally delivered it to the White House. In gratitude, President Clinton sent her an autographed letter of appreciation along with a picture, which Juanita proudly displayed in her home in Orosi.
President Clinton's quilt was one of hundreds Juanita lovingly hand-stitched for family, friends and others who appreciated the beauty and comfort her quilts provided. She was featured in several newspaper articles and won many awards for her quilting.
Juanita loved to travel by motorhome, plane, train or boat cruise, visiting most of the 50 states as well as several countries in Europe, and even the Panama Canal. She also enjoyed collecting Beanie Babies, acquiring hundreds of the stuffed toys and displaying them throughout her home.
Her later years were spent at Sierra Village Assisted Living -- doing lots of quilting, of course! A huge "thank you" to the staff at Kaweah Delta Nursing and Sierra Village for their kindness in her last few days.
While representing Sierra Village, Juanita experienced one of her proudest moments later in life when she was selected "Belle of the Ballpark" by the Visalia Rawhide on May 18, 2018. Juanita was so proud of being "Belle of the Ballpark," she didn't want to relinquish the crown the next year.
Juanita was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and brothers Carlon Ellenburg and Harold Ellenburg.
She is survived by her brother E.J. (John) Ellenburg, daughter Liz Lovero (and husband Frank), son Rick Adams (and wife Connie), grandson Nick Giannandrea (and wife Kathleen), granddaughter Melanie Giannandrea, granddaughter Tiffany McCoy (and husband George), seven great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and friends, ALL of whom she loved whole-heartedly.
A graveside service will be held at 10:30 a.m. June 9 at Visalia Cemetery, 1300 W. Goshen Ave, Visalia.  Arrangements by Smith Family Chapel, Exeter. Online condolences may be sent to smithfamilychapel.com.
On Sun, May 29, 2022 at 1:02 PM Nick Giannandrea wrote:

Hazel "Juanita" Adams
A beloved mother, sister, sister-in-law, grandmother, great grandmother and dear friend, Adams gained her wings on May 26, 2022, in Visalia, Calif., at the age of 96.
Best known as "Juanita," the soft spoken "Quilting Lady," she was born Oct. 10, 1925, in Arkansas as the first of Inez and Floyd Ellenberg's four children. She married L.B. Adams in 1947, and they had two children.
Juanita will always be remembered for her generosity toward others, her compassion for quilting and her love of the Red, White and Blue. On any given day, you would find Juanita in her many Red, White and Blue outfits. 
Juanita was so patriotic, and so proud of fellow Arkansas native Bill Clinton when he was elected President of the United States in 1992, that she hand-crafted him a quilt and personally delivered it to the White House. In gratitude, President Clinton sent her an autographed letter of appreciation along with a picture, which Juanita proudly displayed in her home in Orosi.
President Clinton's quilt was one of hundreds Juanita lovingly hand-stitched for family, friends and others who appreciated the beauty and comfort her quilts provided. She was featured in several newspaper articles and won many awards for her quilting.
Juanita loved to travel by motorhome, plane, train or boat cruise, visiting most of the 50 states as well as several countries in Europe, and even the Panama Canal. She also enjoyed collecting Beanie Babies, acquiring hundreds of the stuffed toys and displaying them throughout her home.
Her later years were spent at Sierra Village Assisted Living -- doing lots of quilting, of course! A huge "thank you" to the staff at Kaweah Delta Nursing and Sierra Village for their kindness in her last few days.
While representing Sierra Village, Juanita experienced one of her proudest moments later in life when she was selected "Belle of the Ballpark" by the Visalia Rawhide on May 18, 2018. Juanita was so proud of being "Belle of the Ballpark," she didn't want to relinquish the crown the next year.
Juanita was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and brothers Carlon Ellenburg and Harold Ellenburg.
She is survived by her brother E.J. (John) Ellenburg, daughter Liz Lovero (and husband Frank), son Rick Adams (and wife Connie), grandson Nick Giannandrea (and wife Kathleen), granddaughter Melanie Giannandrea, granddaughter Tiffany McCoy (and husband George), seven great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and friends, ALL of whom she loved whole-heartedly.
A graveside service will be held at 10:30 a.m. June 9 at Visalia Cemetery, 1300 W. Goshen Ave, Visalia.  Arrangements by Smith Family Chapel, Exeter. Online condolences may be sent to smithfamilychapel.com.

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