Emma Barsi

Emma Barsi of Sonoma passed away peacefully on April 1, 2014, at home surrounded by her loving family.

She was 96 years old, born on April 13, 1917, in Sonoma, to the late Alibrando and Pia Barsi. She grew up in the beautiful town of Sonoma with her late sisters Delfina Fuentes, and Lillian Ballwanz. She always adored the talents of her belated niece Shirley Weil, and cherished the times spent with nieces, Darlene Torri, Carol Hester, Gloria Schwarz and nephew, Bobby Fuentes. She always cared deeply and loved spending time with all of her family and friends.

From a young age, Emma found a love for gardening, animals and caregiving. She was a proud and dedicated worker. The most profound being our family’s original Rosie the Riveter at Mare Island during World War II, proudly working alongside her family at the Pioneer French Bakery. However, the honor of working 37 years at Sprouse-Reitz were her most illustrious. She was a gratified member of the Italian Catholic Federation. Emma enjoyed playing bingo and bunco with her sister Lily and her friends at Sonoma Hills. She was very happy taking her great-nephew out for a spin in her Mustang, also talking about recipes her mother made with nieces and cousins.

To our family, Emma has always been strong, capable, spunky, sweet and a very intelligent women. As her dear friend said, “her shoes will be hard to fill.”

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Pets Lifeline, 19686 Eighth St. E., Sonoma.

Friends are invited to her vigil on Monday, April 7, 2014, at 7 p.m., at Duggan’s Mission Chapel. A funeral Mass will be said at St. Francis Solano Church at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 8, 2014.

A reception will follow at Sonoma Hills immediately following her entombment at St. Francis Cemetery, Sonoma.

Duggan’s Mission Chapelduggansmissionchapel.com

Sonoma