Ramona Ann Silvestri was born on Jan. 29, 1912, in Antioch, Calif. and passed away peacefully at Nazareth House in San Rafael on Jan. 16, 2009, just short of her 97th birthday. Ramona was the youngest of two daughters born to John Arata and Mary Ann (“Mamie”) McFarlan, whose pioneer families settled in Antioch in the 1850s. Upon graduation from Liberty Union High School in Antioch, to which she drove a horse and buggy from her family’s Lone Tree Ranch, Ramona moved to San Francisco in 1929, where she worked as a secretary and became active with the Dolores Institute YLI, a group of Catholic women to whose social and family values she remained loyal for the rest of her life. She married George Silvestri at Mission Dolores in 1937. Ramona and George moved to Marin in 1946, where they raised their three sons and became very involved in community, business and religious activities, including St. Raphael’s Church and School, Marin Catholic High School, Serra International, Boy Scouts, San Rafael Kiwanis Club and the National Frozen Food Association. Shortly after her husband sold his food distribution business, Marin Products, Co. (commonly known as “Frosty Acres”) to sons Frank and Jim in 1978, George and Ramona moved to Sonoma, where George passed away in 1980.
Ramona is survived by her son George (Valerie Scatena), children G. Peter (Elizabeth Hass), Gina (Ben Sanger), and Dominic (Melissa Chicca); her son Frank, daughters Cara (Rene Novoa) and Giuliana; and her son Jim (Coco Denegri), sons Vincent and Joseph. Ramona is also survived by seven great-grandchildren: Carlisle, Laughlin, Bryson, Jordan, Jacob and Kyra Silvestri, and Marco Novoa.
Services were held at St. Raphael Mission in San Rafael on Jan. 21 and 22, followed by interment beside her late husband at Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery in San Rafael. If desired, a contribution may be made in Ramona’s memory to Nazareth House, 245 Nova Albion Way, San Rafael, CA 94903.
Josephine Acquistapace Baines, 96, died in Sonoma on Jan. 14, 2009. She was the adored mother of Gloria Nelson of Lake County, Jean Leal of Santa Rosa and Arlene Clemens of Sonoma; and the mother-in-law of Lee Nelson, Robert Leal and Jerry Clemens. She was the sister of Albert Guffanti and the late Melvin and James Acquistapace and Frank and Lindo Gemini. She was the grandmother of Gary and Richard Guanella, Debbie Elzey, Diane Seeley, Sharon Farnsworth, Robin Pozzi, Lisa Allen and Brooke Clemens. She was the great-grandmother of Nicole Welch; Ashley Fechter; Melissa, Raymond and Garrett Guanella; Christina and Richard Pozzi; Steven and Rachel Allen; Brittany and Kayla Seeley; and the great-great-grandmother of Kinsey and Kaylin Fechter. Josephine is also survived by nieces and nephews. She was indebted to her caregivers for their dedicated care: Maria, Ben and Miley, at Sonoma Oak Tree Home and Chuy, Lema, Anne and Karen at her residence.
Josephine was a housekeeper at the Sonoma Developmental Center for 15 years. She was a volunteer at the Church Mouse in Sonoma for 30 years and a 50-year member of The Sonoma Parlor # 209, Native Daughters of the Golden West. Josephine loved gardening and was very adept at starting new plants. She was a dedicated homemaker who loved cooking, baking, crocheting and knitting. Josephine was a native of Kenwood.
Funeral services were held at Duggan’s Mission Chapel on Thursday, Jan. 22, followed by an entombment at St. Francis Cemetery. Donations in her memory may be made to Hospice By the Bay, 190 West Napa St., Sonoma, CA 95476.
Arrangements under the direction of Duggan’s Mission Chapel, Sonoma.
Bernice Blaine passed away peacefully on Jan. 11, 2009 with her loving family at her side. She was 81. Bernice was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. and moved to California in 1973. She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 59 years, Elliot Blaine. Bernice and Elliot chose to settle down in our little town of Sonoma in 2001, where she was surrounded and adored by friends and family. Bernice is also survived by her loving sons, Dennis and his wife Leslie of Stuart, Fla., and Jason and his wife Sandie of Kenwood; her four grandchildren, Joshua, Tracey, Monica and Dana, as well as the two newest additions to the Blaine family, Owen Chase and Peyton Reese, her great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother, Mike Lipton of Southern California.
Bernice always put her family first and had many friends that loved her kind ways and her great outlook on life. Bernice loved to play golf and she and Elliot traveled the world enjoying life. She was very charismatic and genuine to all around her. Bernice, you will be missed by everyone who knew you.
Friends and family attended a memorial service in her honor at Duggan’s Mission Chapel on Monday, Jan. 19, immediately followed by a celebration of her life and a reception.
Donations in Bernice’s memory may be made to the charity of your choice, or to the American Heart Association, 1.800.242.8721 or P.O. Box 844, Santa Rosa, CA 95402.
Arrangements under the direction of Duggan’s Mission Chapel, Sonoma, CA.
