Carla A. Short, age 74 of Susanville, CA, passed away Saturday, August 13, 2022, in Lassen County, CA. Carla was born May 30, 1948, in Ayer, MA to the late Carl J. Szewczyk Jr. and Shirley “Gloria” Cote.
Carla moved from Massachusetts to Long Beach, CA with her parents at the age of four. The family lived in southern California for several years, then in the San Francisco Bay area. Carla attended Hayward High School until her senior year when her step-father took a job in Lassen County. She graduated from Lassen High School in 1966,
Carla began a career in banking at First Interstate Bank in Susanville, which underwent a number of different ownerships and iterations over the years. She finally retired from Tri Counties Bank after more than 20 years of dedicated service.
In 1978, Carla married Donald “DJ” Short. They were married for 40 years until DJ passed away in 2018. Together, she and DJ enjoyed traveling, playing cards, and spending time with friends and family. Carla was a skilled cook, and enjoyed collecting cookbooks, salt and pepper shakers, dancing, reading, and drinking weak coffee with sugar. She loved to try her luck at the casinos, and was a regular presence there. When traveling to and from Reno, she always had to stop at Bordertown. Relatives living across the country had even heard of Bordertown, thinking that it was an actual town. They were perplexed when coming to visit and discovering that Bordertown was a building. A building where Carla would stop to eat, and of course, put a few coins in the slot machines. She won more often than not.
Carla is survived by her daughter, Michell Schindeler, and grandchildren: Dwight Stout, Colin Parker, and Perrin Schindeler; step-daughter, Donelle (Brian) Wade, and grandchildren: Kaylene and Deanna Breeding; a son, Scott; and several other relatives and friends. In addition to her parents and husband, Carla was preceded in death by her grandson, Raleigh Parker; and several members of her extended family.
The family will receive friends Saturday, November 5, 2022, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 120 N. Union St., Susanville, CA. A Mass will be held after the visitation at the Church at 12:00 pm. Committal will immediately follow at Diamond Crest Cemetery in Lassen County.
Donations to the local animal shelter in Carla’s memory may be made to: LCAS Trust Fund, 707 Nevada St., Suite 4, Susanville, CA 96130.
