Cheryl Leigh (Sawyer) Riopel – November 6, 1943 -August 13, 2023 – was born at Norfolk Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia to Wyatt and Gertrude Sawyer.

After making several moves for the Navy, the family settled in Sunnyvale, California where she met her husband to be. In 1965 Cheryl married Robert Riopel in San Jose and they lived in that area until 2005 when they retired and moved to Lake Wildwood in Penn Valley, California. 

They have two children, Laura Mendelson (Mike) and Gregory. Cheryl carried most of the load raising them while Bob pursued his career. Once the children were older, Cheryl went back to work as a secretary for a child services organization. She has two grandchildren (Syd and Tyler) which were the love of her life. 

Cheryl volunteered at various organizations, including preparing meals for cancer patients even after her diagnosis. She dealt with her cancer treatment with grace and without complaint. She was loved by the medical personnel because of her caring for others. Even in hospice care, she always had compliments for those caring for her. 

Cheryl is survived by her husband, children, grandchildren, sister Pamela and husband, Bill Stamatis, and nephews, Aaron and Matt. 

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