Pamela Gail Burnham

Pamela Burnham, died peacefully in her home in Pismo Beach on Tuesday June 4th, 2024, just shy of her 78th birthday. 

Pamela (Pam) was born June 6th, 1946 in Pasadena, California. Pam was the 2nd of three children of Reverend Arvid and Linnea Carlson. Her father was the pastor at the Mission Covenant Church on Lake Avenue in Pasadena.Pam grew up with a love for music, education, and travel.She attended Pasadena High School, where she was part of the Disciplined Drill Team, performing at the high school football games and parades. She served on the school election board and was part of the prestigious Auroras Club, graduating in 1964.

Pam eventually moved from Los Angeles to the Bay Area where she attended San Jose State University and worked at multiple tech companies in senior administrative roles. Pam’s children, Dyana and Matthew, were most important in her life. She was a loving and caring mother and poured her heart and soul into them. Pam raised her children in the Santa Cruz Mountains, facing challenges of earthquakes and fires. She made many close friends in those years on the mountain. 

Pam met and married James Burnham (Jim) July, 24th 1998 through her work at LCO Technical Sales. Jim helped Pam and the family relocate after the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989 and they became partners for life. Pam finished out her career working as the key Administrative Assistant to the Health Services Director of Santa Cruz County, where she made many friends and gained admiration for her organizational and personal skills. 

After retiring In 2011, Pam was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. After major surgery and Chemo treatments, she became one of 1% of pancreatic cancer patients nationwide with a clean bill of health for over ten years, allowing her and Jim to travel extensively all over the world. Pam and Jim moved to Pismo Beach in 2015 and continued their traveling adventures. They made many friends while living in Pismo Beach and ended up traveling with and making amazing memories with those friends. 

In October of 2022 Pam had a follow up scan to check for cancer and there was a tumor that had formed on her pancreas. Pam returned to chemo therapy with Jim by her side. Pam was not one to be defined by her cancer diagnosis, so she continued to care for her family and friends during this time. On June, 4th 2024 Pam lost her battle with cancer. She will be sorely missed by her family and friends that cared for her so deeply. 

Pam is survived by her loving husband James Burnham, sister Linda Bergthold, brother Charles Carlson, two children whom she adored -- Dyana (Michael) Feldmeyer, Matthew (Andriel) Leland --and her three grandsons, Tyler Leland, Nicholas Feldmeyer and Gavin Leland, to whom she will be remembered as a loving “Oma” forever.

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