Cleo Marie Sopp

Cleo Marie Roth was born on April 6, 1934, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Edward Anthony Roth, Sr. and Cleopha Boeggeman. Cleo had one brother, Edward "Buzzy" Anthony Roth Jr. Cleo's family moved to Maywood, California early in her life. She was a devoted daughter and sister who home-cared her widowed father during the later years of his life, and tendered to her brother's needs during his battle with cancer.

Cleo was a loving wife and devoted mother. She met her husband, Glenn Sopp, at a St. Rose of Lima young-people's dance club, married on July 30, 1955, and moved to Whittier in 1956. Together, they adopted and lovingly raised two children, Paul and Kathleen ("Candy"). Cleo played violin in the Los Angeles Junior Philharmonic in her youth, graduated from St. Rose of Lima High School in 1950, and studied at Los Angeles Community College.

Cleo worked for the City of Whittier where she made some of her lifelong friendships. She also worked as an executive secretary for the Winchell's Corporation, and later for the Superintendent of the Lowell Joint School District.

Cleo loved spending time with family and friends. Although she was terrified of air travel, Cleo and Glenn traveled the world after her retirement. She cared for Glenn during his later years at home until it was necessary for Glenn to move to Walnut Villa, a Board and Care facility in South Whittier. Cleo became part of the Walnut Villa family, and often led its residents in song and prayer during the countless days and hours over the years until Glenn's passing in 2012.

Cleo remained a devout Roman Catholic throughout life. She was active in her neighborhood watch and always there to assist her neighbors and the elderly. Cleo lost her best friend and soul mate upon Glenn's passing. She focused on Church, her children, friends, was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels, an active member of the Republican Woman's Club, and an avid bowler.

Cleo believed that no bed should be "dog-less." Her "3rd child" was a golden terrier-mix named Honey, who was a source of joy and companionship after Glenn's passing.

Cleo moved to Walnut Villa in 2017 after suffering from a fall, where she received loving care from her Walnut Villa family. She continued to revel in dogginess with Daisy and Chico, her adopted dogs, while at Walnut Villa. She peacefully passed in her bed on October 1, 2020.

Cleo was generous to a fault. She regularly put others' wants and needs before her own. She taught everyone fortunate enough to have her in their life about the importance of service to others and what it means to love. There will always be an emptiness with her passing, but she will live in the hearts of all those she touched. She is being laid to rest alongside her brother, and is now reunited with Glenn, her parents, family and friends who preceded her in death. We are sad she is no longer with us, but are grateful for the time we had together.

Cleo is survived by her son, Paul Bennett Var, Esq., his wife Yisa and their son, Aisaiah (whom Cleo proudly bragged about being her grandchild); and her daughter, Kathleen "Candy" Sopp, LCSW, who lives in Redondo Beach with her boyfriend, James Aiken, as well as her sister-in-law Jeane Sopp, one niece and nephew and their families.