Grace Mary Leonti Tomasello, born June 1, 1924 in Corona,
Calif., passed away in Gilroy, on May 13, 2003.
Grace Mary Leonti Tomasello, born June 1, 1924 in Corona, Calif., passed away in Gilroy, on May 13, 2003.
Mrs. Tomasello was married to her late husband, John Joseph Tomasello, for 32 years, before he passed away in 1980. She was the daughter of the late, Paulina Puliafico and Frank Leonti and the sister of the late Rose Bozzo.
Mrs. Tomasello is survived by her son and his wife, Sal and Annie Tomasello of Gilroy, her son and his wife, Frank and Carol Tomasello of Fresno, her son and his girlfriend, John Tomasello and Linda Stites (and her daughter Laura Miller) of Gilroy. Mrs. Tomasello was preceded in death by her daughter Joanne Tomasello. She was the grandmother of Melissa and Chip Beardsley, Mark Tomasello, Joe Tomasello and Rick Tomasello and the great grandmother of Andrea Tomasello and Jacob Beardsley.
Upon the death of her mother at an early age, Grace was raised by her aunt, Teresa Puliafico. Grace graduated from Live Oak High School in 1944 and was married to John Joseph Tomasello on Sept. 5, 1948. They lived in San Francisco, where her children were born, and moved to Gilroy in August of 1959. She worked for Filice and Pirrelli Canning Company for more than 20 years. She was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church and the local Sons of Italy Chapter. She was a loving mother and grandmother. Her interests included gardening, cooking Sunday meals for her family, playing Bingo at the Senior Citizens Center and at Gilroy Healthcare, and watching movies.
Funeral Services will begin Monday at 10:30 a.m. at Habing Family Funeral Home, Gilroy, and then procession to St. Mary Church where a Vigil and Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. will be celebrated by her nephew, Father Vince Mesi, pastor of the Mission in Santa Barbara. Burial will follow the Mass at St. Mary Cemetery, Gilroy. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Family would appreciate donations to either the American Cancer Society Relay for Life (Gilroy) or the Gilroy Health-care and Rehabilitation Center, 8170 Murray Ave., Gilroy, 95020 in her memory.
