Extra Credit

SIMONS, Amber who lived in Castro Valley, died last week on a hot air balloon trip, of natural causes, at age 95. Amber was born in Oakland, California, on April 8, 1987. She grew up in Oakland and moved to Castro Valley when she was 13-years-old.
It was her first year at Castro Valley High School when she met the love of her life, Matthew Hepworth. Although they broke up shortly after Amber left for college, the two of them remained friends and rekindled their relationship during her second year of college.
Amber graduated from San Jose State University with bachelor’s degrees in journalism and philosophy. Upon her graduation, she joined the Peace Corps and was sent to Costa Rica where she spent two years doing volunteer work. The experience was one Amber cherished for the rest of her life.
When Amber returned home, Matthew proposed and she accepted. The two got married in the spring the next year. That same year, Amber began her journalism career at Vanity Fair magazine. She worked for Vanity Fair for 10 years, when she decided to start her own publication. Her dream was to create a magazine for music and fashion worshipers, like herself.
Melody magazine became an instant favorite for many young American women. Her magazine featured famous music artists and fashion designers like her own sister, Anastasia. Amber gave a great deal of her earnings to children charities both in the U.S. and abroad. She always believed that people should help out others in need, especially children in need. Harmony was not Amber’s only accomplishment.
Amber and Matthew had three children, Jacob, Lorraine Estelle and Melody, whom they adored. Amber loved being a mother more than anything and was proud that she could be both successful in her career and in parenting. After 30 years Amber retired, handing down Harmony to her daughter Lorraine Estelle.
Amber and Matthew spent their last 30 years together traveling.
Amber is survived by her loving husband, her younger sister, her three children and her grandchildren. She had expressed to her family that she would like to be cremated and that her ashes be scattered in a lake, where she felt most at peace. Anyone attending the dispersion of Amber’s ashes is asked to wear bright colors, because they were her favorites.
The family would like to thank all of those who expressed sympathy in this time of loss.

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