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Mary Evelyn Ruane Bisazza

Mary Evelyn Ruane Bisazza passed away peacefully at home in Sonoma on March 30, 2011, at the age of 87. She was a second generation San Franciscan, the second of four children born to Patrick and Evelyn Loftus Ruane. Proud of her Irish heritage (County Galway), she grew up in the Mission District and graduated from St. James Girls’ School and Immaculate Conception Academy.

In 1945, Mary Evelyn married fellow San Franciscan Mario Bisazza and together they raised six daughters. In addition, she helped manage the family businesses, Mario’s Bar in the 1950’s and Mario’s Liquor Store in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

In 1982, Mario and Mary Evelyn retired to Sonoma, where she became an active volunteer at the Church Mouse Thrift Shop, which supports St. Francis Solano School. Mario died in 1996 but their home continued to be the hub of family activities, as Mary Evelyn was a gracious hostess and excellent cook.

Mary Evelyn was idolized by her six daughters: Maureen (deceased), Kathleen Regan (Patrick), Evelyn Harley (Richard, deceased), Patricia Van Dis (Robert), Suzanne Koonce (Leslie), Antoinette Rousseau (Donald) and former son-in-law Robert Solon.

She was a wonderful “Nana” to her nine grandchildren: Brian Solon (Ashley), Monica Van Dis, Michael Regan (Danielle), Michelle McCully (Justin), Stephen Van Dis (Alison), Kevin Solon, Eric Harley (Sarah), Mark Harley and Andrew Harley (Betty).

Over the last four years, Mary Evelyn was thrilled about the birth of her four great-grandchildren: Julie McCully, Timothy Regan, Brooke McCully and Olivia Van Dis, whose Baptism she celebrated with the family a month ago.

Her extended family is also mourning the loss of Mary Evelyn, including her sister, Bernadette Ruane; her sisters-in-law, Anne Bisazza and Noel Ruane; and dozens of nieces, nephews and cousins from the Alioto, Bisazza, Fealy, Hooper, Kelleher, Molloy and Ruane families. She was especially close to her nieces Marcia Hooper, Valerie Lienkaemper, Bernadette Hooper and Denise Hooper (deceased), and her nephew David Hooper.

Mary Evelyn was preceded in death by her sister, Patricia Fealy and her brother, Gerald Ruane.

The Vigil and Rosary will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5, 2011, at Duggan’s Mission Chapel, 525 W. Napa St. in Sonoma. The funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 6, 2011, at St. James Catholic Church, 23rd and Guerrero streets, San Francisco. Interment to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions be made in Mary Evelyn’s memory to Immaculate Conception Academy, 3625 - 24th Street, San Francisco, CA 94110. Duggan’s Mission Chapel in charge of arrangements.