Annunziata "Nuni" Radicchi
Annunziata Radicchi
April 22, 1924 - Jan. 27, 2012
Resident of Santa Cruz
Annunziata "Nuni" Radicchi passed away peacefully on January 27, 2012 at Dominican Hospital, after a brief illness, with her daughters by her side; she was 87. Nuni (La Volpe) was born to Dario and Virginia Manci in Iron Mountain, Michigan, where her father, who originally emigrated from Italy, worked in the iron mines for over 25 years. When she was two, her family returned to Gubbio, Italy, where she was raised, educated and married her longtime love, Nello Radicchi. In December of 1948, along with her infant daughter, Rosa, and her younger sister, Anita, she returned to the US, joining her older sister Irene Pori and family in Santa Cruz where Nello joined them after six months. Nuni was a long-time resident of Davenport "The Quarry" where she and Nello raised their family for ten years before moving to Santa Cruz after the big rainstorm and mountain slide of 1962.
She was first employed by Levi Strauss, where she made many lifelong friends. Later on she worked part-time in the local canneries, which included Pfeiffer, Stokely's, and Birds Eye Foods. When Lipton came to town, Nuni was hired and proudly worked as a machine operator until she retired after 17 years. She was an active member of the Lipton retirees group.
Filled with love, light and her radiant smile, Nuni fully embraced her life. Never one to be held back by life's hardships, she chose to appreciate her many blessings. She was a long-time parishioner of Holy Cross Church and a member of the Italian Catholic Federation Santa Cruz Br. #21 since 1968. She was also a former member of The Sons of Italy. An avid bowler well into her 80's and a member of several bowling teams, Nuni also enjoyed golf and was a member of the Lipton golf team for many years. In addition, she was an accomplished bocce player, a talented poker player, who also enjoyed opera, dancing, a variety of music and travel. Above all, she valued her beloved grandchildren, her beautiful family and her many, many friends. With a gift for making people feel special and always welcome, her kitchen was often filled with warm aromas of coffee, focaccia, biscotti and sauce; it became a natural gathering place for family and friends. In 2009, she and her siblings, hosted their "100 Year Manci Family Reunion" at the Cocoanut Grove.
Nuni is survived by her four daughters: Rosa Radicchi, Adele Tuiolosega, Daria Stark (Howard), and Kathleen Frost (Keith), and her honorary fifth daughter, Nancy Galli Dalquest (Len); her brother Frank Manci (Renata), sisters Anita Gatti and Guglielma Spogli (Gianni), sister-in-law Gloria Manci and her grandsons Joseph, Kenny, Matthew, and Paul, her granddaughter Erika, her loving Radicchi family, numerous nieces and nephews and relatives in the US and in Italy.
Having endured the loss of their beloved only son Joseph "Joey" in 1976, Nello preceded her in death in 1984. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Dario Virginia Manci and her siblings, Mary Manci, Dante Manci, Irene Roland Pori, Amadeo (Emil) Manci, Bianca Orlando, her dear brother-in-laws Orlando Gatti, Gaspare Orlando and her dear childhood friend Olivia Gatti Manos.
Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be on Friday, February 3, 2012 at Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel beginning at 7 p.m. Friends may pay their respects at the chapel on Friday from 1 p.m. until the Rosary begins. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated on Saturday, February 4, at Holy Cross Catholic Church (126 High Street) beginning at 12 noon.
The burial is private at Holy Cross Cemetery where she will be laid to rest beside her late husband, Nello. To light a candle and share your condolences with the family, please visit www.pacificgardenschapel.com. Donations may be made to an organization or charity of your choice ; or the Dominican Hospital Cardiac Unit (http://www.dominicanhospital.org/index.htm) , Hodgkin's Research at Stanford Hospital (http://stanfordhospital.org/ ) or the Holy Cross Food Pantry.
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IVANO SAYS (CONT'D): Nuni was a friend and inspiration to us all. She truely showed us how our lives should be lived. Sempre Avanti, Nuni. "Until we meet again, across 'Il Ultimo Ponte."
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