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Clara Marie Bagnasco

Clara Marie Bagnasco passed away peacefully in Sonoma on May 11, 2012. Born Clara Marie Morando on Sept. 29, 1931, in San Francisco, she graduated from Lick-Wilmerding High School in 1947 at the age of 16. She soon began work as a key-punch operator with Southern Pacific Railroad.

  In 1950, at the age of 18, Clara accompanied a small party of family members to Italy. It was there she met and married Carlo Bagnasco, of Voltaggio, province of Alessandria, in the Italian region of Piedmont on May 7, 1950. In 1952, Carlo immigrated to San Francisco. The young couple plus their first born, Linda, moved to Sonoma in 1957. Both worked hard establishing and running their chicken ranch, calling it the Double “C” Ranch. Soon, they were blessed with their son, David.

  While working beside her husband, Clara lovingly raised her family. After the 1961 El Verano wildfire destroyed the Bagnasco home and business, Clara found employment at State Farm Insurance in Santa Rosa, becoming their premier key-punch operator. She concluded her career as the bookkeeper for Wells Fargo Bank in Sonoma.

  Clara will long be missed for her superb Italian cooking, her artistic talents with oils, watercolors and ceramics, and the deep love she had for her family. She was fond of travel and possessed the unique ability of routinely completing the New York Times crossword puzzle … in ink. Old movies were best watched with Clara as she would share many unknown facts about movie stars of old. She taught her children strong work ethics by example and instilled in them respect and manners. Sorely forever missed by her children will be her beautiful smile, hearing the pet names she called them and her famous apple pie.

  She is survived by her son, David Bagnasco, of Sonoma; daughter, Linda Bradbury (Jack Jeffrey), of Sonoma; and brother, Al Morando (Rose), of Millbrae. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Clara was preceded in death by her husband, Carlo, in August of 2011; as well as her parents, Giacomo and Caterina Morando of Sonoma.

  The family wishes to especially thank all members of the Skilled Nursing Staff, Sonoma Valley Hospital for their compassion and support. No formal services will be held at Clara’s request.

  If desired, memorial donations may be sent to one of the following nonprofit organizations: Meals on Wheels of Sonoma, P.O. Box 622, Sonoma, CA 95476; Pets Lifeline Animal Center, P.O. Box 341, Sonoma, CA 95476.