Figlio Della Costa Charlie Modena Remembered

Charles Louis Modena
January 16, 1914 - May 6, 2013
Resident of Santa Cruz
Our Dearest Dad, Charlie, died peacefully with family at his bedside after a very brief illness.
He was born at home on a beautiful ranch in San Gregorio, California to Carlo and Sylvia Modena, who were originally from Lucca, Italy. He was the youngest of five children.
He relocated to Santa Cruz upon his marriage to his wife, Theresa. It was in Santa Cruz where they raised their two children, Charlene and Fred and lived happily for more than seventy years.
He was in the military Army Corp of Engineers during WWII and was discharged in August 1943. He was a member of the Elks Club, The Marconi Club and the ICF of Santa Cruz.
He acquired Santa Cruz Distributing Company in the 1950's and sold the company in 1998. It was one of the first independent trucking companies in Santa Cruz.
Charlie was a lover of life, a great story teller and was happiest when surrounded by family, friends and his hunting dogs. His interests were endless and so many things brought him joy: His love of family history, cooking family recipes, gathering wild mushrooms, award winning wine making, canning, gardening, grafting fruit trees, hunting, fishing, and traveling, especially to Italy. He really was the keeper of the family flame. Never to be forgotten is the organic strawberry wine made by our Mom and Dad when they were well into their seventies. He loved making summertime root beer floats and used his artistic talents to keep his small children entertained for hours. Who can forget his love for Kitto, the family cat, who shared his life and easy chair for more than 20 years.
He is preceded in death by his wife of seventy years, Theresa Dimeo Modena who passed away in 2010 and is also survived by his children: Charlene and Fred; Daughter in law, Lia Modena; Two grandchildren, Lisa and Eric Modena; and three great grandchildren, Isabel, Lance and Cedric Modena and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would also like to thank devoted caregivers, Sylvia Soper, Marissa Alvarez, Pam Smith, Viveca Vega and grandson, Eric Modena.
Papa Charlie's passing leaves a huge emptiness in the lives of family and friends. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him and whose lives he has touched and enriched.
Dad, give everyone a hug for us.
Friends are invited to a visitation beginning at 9 AM on Saturday May 18, 2013 at the Oakwood Memorial Chapel 3301 Paul Sweet Road in Santa Cruz. Funeral Mass begins at 11:00 AM with a graveside committal to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery 2271 7th Ave Santa Cruz. 
A reception following will be held at the Elks Lodge 150 Jewell Street Santa Cruz.
If you would like to offer condolences to Charlie's family, share your memories and light a candle in his memory please visit www.scmemorial.com

FIGLIA DI SANTA CROCE (DAUGHTER OF SANTA CRUZ) MARY GHIO MARSALISI REMEMBERED

IVANO SAYS: The below Remembrance of Mary Ghio Marsalisi was first published in the

 Santa Cruz Sentinel : www.santacruzsentinel.com  

Mary Ghio Marsalisi Obituary Mary Ghio Marsalisi Feb. 16,1921-Mar. 31,2013 Resident of Santa Cruz Mary Ghio Marsalisi passed away on March 31, 2013 at a local convalescent hospital. She was 92. Mary was born in Santa Cruz on February 16, 1921. She was one of eight children born to Stephen and Caterina Ghio. Mary grew up in Santa Cruz and was a graduate of Santa Cruz High School. As a young women she met Bernard Marsalisa while he was recovering at the Casa Del Rey from injuries he sustained in World War Two. The couple later married and made their home in Santa Cruz. Mary was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She enjoyed gardening and attending social gatherings of the Italian Catholic Federation and the Marconi Club. She was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church. She is survived by her sons, Louis Marsalisi and Stephen Marsalisi and his wife, Julie; daughter, Ann Loncarich and her husband, Rick; sister, Victoria Gemignani; brother, Johnnie Ghio; four grandchildren, Chase Marsalisi, Leah Marsalisi-Romero and her husband, Ben Romero, Nicolette Marsalisi and Taryn Marsalisi; She is also survived by her great grandson, Benito Romero and numerous nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bernard Marsalisi, five siblings, Steve "Ghighi" Ghio, Bautista "Lillie" Ghio, Victor Ghio, Flora Jackson and Gloria Dellamora, daugher-in-law, Bonnie Marsalisi and her parents. A vigil prayer service and rosary will be held at Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel, 1050 Cayuga St, Santa Cruz, CA. on Thursday, April 4, 2013 at 7:00 pm. A visitation will be held at the chapel on Thursday from 5:00 pm until service time. A private family interment will be held on Friday at Holy Cross Cemetery. The family wishes to express a sincere and heartfelt thank you to Mary's nieces, Donna Karst and Linda Deane and her great niece Melissa Dean their unconditional love and the care they gave to her during her illness and to Hospice of Santa Cruz for the compassionate care and support they provided the last months of her life. Contributions may be made to Hospice of Santa Cruz, 940 Disc Dr., Scotts Valley, CA 95066.

ADDIO MARY, UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN ACROSS "IL ULTIMO PONTE" (THE LAST BRIDGE)

SANTA CRUZ NORTH COAST PRESENTATION A SUCCESS.

IVANO SAYS: OUR SANTA CRUZ NORTH COAST PRESENTATION IN SANTA CRUZ ON MARCH 16, 2013 WAS A GREAT SUCCESS. MY THANKS TO JIM HOWES, LaNORMA, (NORMA DINELLI WILSON, PATTY MORELLI AND MY GRANDSONS KRISTIAN RICHARD KNOWLES AND ANDREW FRITTER. I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU.  ALSO MY THANKS TO THOSE WHO ATTENDED AND PARTICIPATED IN THE EVENT. MILLE GRAZIE.

BELOW ARE SOME PHOTOS OF THE EVENT TAKEN BY MARVIN DEL CHIARO:

Jo Anne Perkins (Papa) with Flora Anecito (Bargiacchi)

                                                                                    The "Old Rancere" with 'Shavola' in hand explaining how "Bronco"

                                 used to work the fields "su per la costa", while singing in Italian.

                                        Patty Morelli and Alverda Orlando

                                Jim Howes, my Production Manager

                            Marvin Del Chiaro, Friend and Photographer

                                  Pointing to Map of 'La Nostra Costa"
                                          with Marvin and La Norma

                                    With Grandson, Kristian


                           
 LaNorma telling it how it was growing up 'su per la costa'.

With Anna Maria Gottie, President, 

   Ladies Branch, Santa Cruz Old Timers

At ringside with Primo Carnera and Max Baer

IVANO SAYS (CON'T): Below are some photos shown on the 'big screen" at our Event:

                                           Benito Mussoline C.1922

                                      Stanchion at La Barranca Park - Santa Cruz

                                           Ellis Island

                                           Angie Battistini's Birthday - Santa Cruz

                      

 Fallen Santa Cruz Police Officers Elizabeth Butler and Loren "Butch" Baker  

                           Saluting Butler- Baker Funeral Procession  2013

                                                Gregory Brothers, Francis and Alvin C. 1945

                                                              Guido Bianconi

                         Gemignani Brothers, Lido, Augie and Joe

                                       Peter Pianavilla

                            Gervasio "Bronco" Comelli and Lido Cantarutti

                                                                         
                                          Lina Bressani Gemignani

                                Map of La Nostra Costa by Norma Dinelli Wilson

                  Photo of La Nostra Costa's Golden Bluffs by Anneliese Agren


                                                                                                         

ANNOUNCING A SANTA CRUZ - NORTH COAST PRESENTATION - SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 2013

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT AND UPDATE 3-2-2013:  JIM HOWES, A FORMER SANTA CRUZ POLICE OFFICER, WILL BE CONDUCTING A REMEMBRANCE FOR FALLEN SANTA CRUZ POLICE OFFICERS LOREN "BUTCH" BAKER AND ELIZABETH BUTLER JUST PRIOR TO THE START OF IVANO'S PRESENTATION.

IVANO FRANCO COMELLI, AUTHOR OF "LA NOSTRA COSTA (OUR COAST)   A FAMILY'S JOURNEY TO AND FROM THE NORTH COAST OF SANTA CRUZ, CA (1923-1983), will be making a Santa Cruz - North Coast Presentation , in Santa Cruz on Saturday, March 16, 2013.

Please come join Ivano, in his guise as"The Old Rancere",  as he celebrates, through stories, songs, photos and audience participation, life in "Santa Croce" and on "La Nostra Costa" as he remembers it in those early years.  Detail of the Event are as follows (Scroll down to bottom for Event time schedule):


WHERE: 399 ENCINAL STREET, SANTA CRUZ, CA
 SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
                BOARD OF EDUCATION  BUILDING - SOUTH WEST CORNER OF ENCINAL AND DUBOIS STREETS   ( NEAR COSTCO AND HARVEY WEST PARK -
                HANDICAP ACCESS THROUGH THE REAR OF BUILDING)


DATE:     SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 2013
TIME:      11:OO AM  TO 4:00 PM

FOOD:     A LIGHT CUISINE WILL BE SERVED

DRINK:   NON-ALCOHOLIC ONLY

MUSIC:   OLD ITALIAN SONGS AND ERA FAVORITES

FEE:          $5 DOLLAR DONATIONS SUGGESTED
















PARKING:    FREE -  IN THE BACK AND ON STREET

WEBSITE:     www.nostra-costa.blogspot.com

TEL:                831-521-0576

DIRECTIONS: AT THE INTERSECTION OF HWY 1 AND HWY 9 IN SANTA CRUZ, TURN ON HWY 9 TOWARDS FELTON; THEN MAKE A LEFT ON ENCINAL STREET (SECOND INTERSECTION ). GO STRAIGHT  TO THE INTERSECTION OF DUBOIS AND ENCINAL.  THE OFFICE OF EDUCATION BUILDING WILL BE ON YOUR LEFT. "CLICCA":  http://goo.gl/maps/RORkj   FOR MAP.

AS TOM MARKETELLO WOULD SAY:

DRIVE SAFELY.  HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.

EVENT TIME SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES APPROXIMATE):

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM 

WELCOME - MEET WITH THE 'OLD RANCHER' (IVANO), LUNCH BY ZOCCOLI's

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM

REMEMBRANCE FOR FALLEN OFFICERS LOREN 'BUTCH' BAKER AND ELIZABETH BAKER BY JIM HOWES

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

SANTA CRUZ NORTH COAST PRESENTATION BY IVANO FRANC0 COMELLI AND NORMA DINELLI WILSON

2:30 PM - 4:00 PM

GROUP MINGLING, PHOTO VIEWING, 

LA NOSTRA COSTA (OUR COAST) BOOK SIGNING BY IVANO

REMEMBERING FIGLIO DELLA COSTA (SON OF THE COAST) HERMAN MONDO

 

IVANO SAYS:  The below Remembrance
 of Herman Mondo was first published
 in the Santa Cruz Sentinel:
 www.santacruzsentinel.com

  

Herman Mondo
December 21, 1932-
January 14, 2013
Resident of Santa Cruz
Herman Raymond Mondo passed away on January 14, 2013 at his
Santa Cruz home after a long time illness. He was 80.
Herman was born in Santa Cruz on December 21, 1932,
 the son of Mario and Antonietta (Orecchia) Mondo. He grew
up in Santa Cruz where he attended Laurel Kindergarden,
 Mission Hill Elementary and Middle School
 and was a graduate of Santa Cruz High School,
 Class of 1952. He later attended San Jose State.
He was a life time resident of Santa Cruz.

He owned and operated a Coors Beer Distributor 
with his brother John for over 20 years. He also
 farmed on the north coast and was active in
 real estate investing.

He was a member of Holy Cross Church, the
 Marconi Club, FortyThieves Tracy Gun Club and a life member of
 the Santa Cruz Elks Lodge. Herman enjoyed life
and loved spending time with his family and
friends. He loved duck hunting, trout fishing and
hunting for mushrooms.
He is survived by his brother and sister in law,
John and Nadia Mondo of Santa Cruz;
 his nephew, Ron Mondo and his wife, Sandi
and there children, Mason and Nico; his niece,
 Michelle Mondo and her children,
Anthony and Sophie. He was preceded in death
 by his parents, Mario Mondo and
Antonietta Orecchia Mondo.
Services will be held at Benito Azzaro Pacific
Gardens Chapel, 1050 Cayuga St., Santa Cruz,
CA on Monday January 21, 2013
at 1:00 pm. A visitation will be held at
Pacific Gardens Chapel
on Sunday from 4pm until 6pm. Please visit
www.pacificgardenschapel.com to light a candle
or express your condolences to Herman's family.
The family wishes to express their deepest
 appreciation and thanks to
Care From the Heart Home Service and
 especially to his care givers Leigh Galang
and Heidi Rodriguez for the loving and
compassionate care they provided Herman
 during his illness. The family would also
like to express a special thanks to all of
Herman's friends who visited
and kept him company during his illness.
In lieu of flowers contributions are
 preferred to the Shriners Hospital
 for Children, 2425 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento,
 CA 95817.
 www.shrinershospitalforchildren.org.
    IVANO SAYS (CONT'D):  Addio Herman. Until we meet  again, "Across Il Ultimo Ponte". 

REMEMBERING HARRY BELLEVILLE - AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE

IVANO SAYS:  Those of us who attended Mission Hill Jr. High School,
 in Santa Cruz in the early 1950s will remember Harry and some of the difficult times he had there.  His Remembrance below was first published in the Santa Cruz Sentinel: www.santacruzsentinel.com    .  


Harry Belleville
December 26, 1937~December 29, 2012
Resident of Scotts Valley
Harry Clayton Belleville, Jr. was born on December 26, 1937 in Oakland, CA to Harry Clayton Belleville, Sr. and Helen Emma Wilder Belleville. He passed away suddenly in the Merced Mercy Medical Center on December 29th 2012. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Leotta L. Allman Belleville, sons, David, Raymond, Michael, and daughter Jennifer. Mr. and Mrs. Belleville have many grandchildren and have lived in the Scotts Valley area for over 30 years.
"Skipper" graduated Valedictorian, Montezuma School for Boys, Los Gatos and went on to study animal husbandry at Modesto Junior College. He then became a chicken rancher producing millions of eggs per week.
During his life, he worked a large variety of jobs throughout the country from steel worker to a card shill. He worked as a printer, a custodian, a truck driver for a winery, a youth detention counselor, and a jobber.
Skipper especially enjoyed his years as a zookeeper and loved working with animals. His entrepreneurial pursuits included building a greeting card company, owner of antique shops, melon stand operator, dry cleaner and becoming a published author.
He worked for multiple charities. His most satisfying work was taking a vow of poverty creating the community charity "The Society of Good Neighbors" and associated "Poor Man's Store". Under his leadership the charity had far more impact than the national or denominational charities in one of the poorest areas of Utah for several years.
Skipper left the world a better place.
Funeral service will be held Friday at 10am: Santa Cruz Memorial - Mission Chapel, 1927 Ocean Street (Ocean Street extension) Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Reception will follow at: Yan Flower Chinese Restaurant, 617 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95060
If you would like to send your condolences to the Belleville family, share your memories, view or post photos, or light a candle, please visit www.scmemorial.com.

ADDIO HARRY  UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN ACROSS IL ULTIMO PONTE (THEN LAST BRIDGE).

FACES OF LA NOSTRA COSTA - A HOLIDAY SPECIAL 2012-13

                                    ANGIE AND JOHN BATTISTINI

              GUIDO BIANCONI WW II REMEMBRANCE BY DIANE BIANCONI

                                                   PETE PIANAVILLA

                                   
                         ANDREINA RODONI AND VALENTINA COMELLI

                                         'BAFFI' CAMPIONI

                                   ANDREINA AND DANTE RODONI

                ANDREINA RODONI - RINA RINALDI - ELSIE (RODONI)

            RODONI FAMILY: ANDREINA, DANTE, MARIO AND ELIO

                                           DAVE FERRARI

                                                 
                                DAVE FERRARI AND IRENE TERRINI

                                  FRANCIS AND ALVIN GREGORY

                      DIANE BIANCONI'S PARENT'S WEDDING IN DAVENPORT

                                              JOE 'PINO' BROVIA

                                       JOE ALVES AND FERD MORO

                                  GIOVANNI PRIMO (JOHN) COMELLI

   GILDA STAGNARO WITH IVANO, LANORMA  AND ALVERDA ORLANDO

                           IRENE TERRINI WITH JOE ALIBERTI

                                             JOEY DELLA MORA




DAVE FERRARI AND MAGARET DELLA MORA
 

MALIO STAGNARO

GILDA STAGNARO

                                             

                                                                                                        
                                                        MINNIE AND JOE DELLA MORA

NICK FAITOS -CYD CHARISSE - TONY MARTIN

                                           

                                                               PINO PFYFFER

                CONSTANTINO "AUGIE" GEMIGNANI WITH WIFE VICTORIA AND ALDINE

                                                      TONY AND PINA MICOSSI

                                                           ALDO CANEPA

                                               THE OLD RANCERE

VANDA DEGLI-ESPOSTI AND ADA CAMPIONI

                              DANTE RODONI AND MORO DEGLI-ESPOSTI

                               

BRONCO AND VALENTINA



Several of the photos above were contributed by Friends of this Blog and my Facebook Pages. I sincerely thank each and everyone of you for sharing them with us.  Sempre Avanti and Happy New Year.  Ivano