Obituaries : * Jack Lee Hone; 11-Year Veteran Firefighter

Jack Lee Hone, a Newbury Park resident for the past five years, died Monday after a long struggle with lung cancer.

He was 31.

Hone was an 11-year veteran of the Santa Monica City Fire Department, a job he started soon after finishing El Camino Community College in Torrance.

“After his wife and his kids, firefighting was his highest priority in life,” said Hone’s brother, Jim, who is a deputy fire chief with the department. “He loved his job.”

For three years before joining the Fire Department, Hone worked in various odd jobs and applied to departments all across California, his brother said.

“It’s what Jack wanted to do,” he said.

Santa Monica City Fire Department Deputy Chief Ettore Berardinelli said Hone showed the same qualities battling cancer that he showed at work. “The way he lived his life was an example,” Berardinelli said. “He showed a tremendous amount of strength and courage. More than I could have come up with. . . . It’s something I would tell him to his face if I could.”

Because it was determined that he contracted lung cancer from smoke inhaled while fighting fires, he will be given full department honors at 11 Saturday morning at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 1855 Main St., Santa Monica, his brother said. Hone asked to be cremated in his uniform.

Hone is survived by his wife, Shelley Hone; daughters Jessica, 3, and Hanna, 1; his parents, Mel Hone and Betty Walker; three brothers and three step-brothers.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Sunset Plan Funeral Directors of Westlake Village.

Andrews, Hazel Vanita, 93, of Oxnard, homemaker. Pierce Brothers Griffin Mortuary, Camarillo.

Benson, Dorothy A., 82, of Camarillo, retired registered nurse. Conejo Mountain Memorial Park and Funeral Home, Camarillo.

Burns, Gladys F., 90, of Newbury Park, retired cashier. Pierce Brothers Griffin Mortuary, Thousand Oaks.

Edwards, Edith Mae, 82, of Thousand Oaks, homemaker. Ted Mayr Funeral Home, Ventura.

Fagerstrom, Elsie, 92, of Camarillo, homemaker. Conejo Mountain Memorial Park and Funeral Home, Camarillo.

Gibson, Carol Marie, 63, of Camarillo, information processor for the Ventura County auditor controller’s office. Pierce Brothers Griffin Mortuary, Camarillo.

King, Lelamae, 95, of Thousand Oaks, retired registered nurse. Pierce Brothers Griffin Mortuary, Thousand Oaks.

Lopez, Olive R., 55, of Santa Paula, homemaker and employee at Olga Fashions. Pierce Brothers Stetler Mortuary, Santa Paula.

Viramontes, Yolanda Anamaria, 50, of Oxnard, homemaker. Guardian Memorial Funeral Directors of Ventura County.

Ventura County obituaries are published free of charge as a public service to readers. Obituaries are based on information provided by cooperating mortuaries.