Ramona “Mona” Eileen Wilke
Ramona “Mona” Eileen Wilke of Santa Barbara passed away peacefully at her home on January 12, 2025, just a few days shy of her 87th birthday. Mona was born on January 17, 1938, to George and Celestine Veix in Culver City, CA. She attended University High School in Los Angeles, and met her sweetheart, Maitland Wilke, during her high school years. They married in 1956 and resided in Santa Monica, CA where they welcomed two children, Eric and Carol. The family moved to Santa Barbara in 1974 where Mona dedicated her life to raising her children. Taking her cue from cultural icon Emily Post, Mona took pride in modeling the principles of etiquette–respect and consideration—in her daily interactions. She loved travelling to her children’s swim meets, knitting personalized Christmas stockings for family and friends, hosting birthday parties and holiday celebrations, attending live theater events, and unwinding with her favorite daytime soap operas: As the World Turns and The Guiding Light.
In 1981 she began working at Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) where she took on a variety of administrative roles until her retirement in 2001. Two months after retiring, she became a grandmother, one of the greatest joys of her life. Mona cherished spending time with grandsons, Callahan and Tristan, and was often seen by her neighbors on long walks with a baby stroller in tow. She became an avid reader, captivated by page-turning, romantic thrillers like If Tomorrow Comes by Sydney Sheldon. Mona stayed connected to her SBCC family by attending monthly luncheons with fellow retirees. She went to Sunday mass religiously and found great comfort and solace in her Catholic faith. Although challenged by health issues later in life, she enjoyed her twilight years surrounded by family in her beloved Santa Barbara home of 50 years.
Mona will be lovingly remembered by her children, Eric Wilke and Carol Morgan, grandchildren, Callahan Morgan and Tristan Morgan, and many nieces and nephews. She is joined in rest by her mother, Celestine, her father, George, her husband, Maitland, along with her siblings Pete, Maryfrancis, Jerome “Jerry,” Gregory, Joan, and Evelyn, and her niece Julie.
A funeral mass for Mona took place on January 22, 2025, at 10:00 AM at St. Raphael Church in Goleta. Immediately after, a brief graveside service took place at Calvary Cemetery in Santa Barbara with a reception at the family home to follow. In remembrance of Mona’s life, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance or your favorite charity. A special thank you to the Hospice Team of VNA Health for supporting Mona during the final steps of her life’s journey.