Darlene Mattila

Name: Darlene Mattila.

Age: 69.

Family: Husband, Jerry; children, Robyn, Jay, Michelle, Gregory, Gennifer and Amanda; five grandchildren.

Residence: Yuba City.

Hobbies, interests: I love to read, knit, cross-stitch, and enjoy Bible study.

What is your passion? Working with people with disabilities.

Where do you get your news? Appeal-Democrat and from TV.

What brought you to the Yuba-Sutter area? We lived in the farthest northwest corner of Montana for 25 years — because of our disabled daughter and our advancing years, we wanted to move to an area there would be residential care for her. We moved here in 2006.

How is the Yuba-Sutter area different than your previous residence? Living in such a remote part of Montana, everything is fun, everything (such as going to the store) is an adventure. I gained 30 pounds moving here, just running around and trying new foods. Originally from Oregon, we went to visit my husband's parents in Montana and loved it.

What do you like about Yuba-Sutter? The weather, the friendly people, the diversity, our church home.

What is the closest you've been to a famous person? About 50 years ago, I was at an airport with my grandmother — she nearly fainted because she saw (comedian) George Gobel. I remember his short haircut.

If you were granted one wish, what would you wish for? I would like to see the world at peace.

Whom do you most admire? The pastors in our church — Trinity Anglican Church in Yuba City — Victor Schreffler and Jim Mariner, for their faith, their energy, their spirituality, their love.

What is your dream? I would like to be floating around the ocean in a little boat with all my books — put me on a cruise ship.

Favorite book: The Bible — that's where we get all our hopes.

Favorite movie: "Gone with the Wind."

What is your pet peeve? Gossip.

What did you want to be when you were a kid? If I had finished college, I would have liked to have been a social worker.