Carmela Vella Benedetto  –Lifelong Sonoma Valley resident

By Bill Lynch Carmela Vella Benedetto, lifelong resident of Sonoma Valley, widow of the late Rocco (Rock)|

By Bill Lynch

Carmela Vella Benedetto, lifelong resident of Sonoma Valley, widow of the late Rocco (Rock) Benedetto and former proprietor of Vella’s Creamery (now Burgers and Vine), passed away Friday, September 19. Born in Oakland on September 4, 1920, she was 94 years old.

Carm, as she was known by her many local friends, was the daughter of Joseph and Rose (Sutter) Vella, who were founder-partners of the original Sonoma Cheese Company. She was also the sister of Loretta Vella.

She attended Sonoma Grammar School (now Sonoma Community Center) and Sonoma Valley High School.

She and Rocco were high school sweethearts and married in 1940. Rocco was a superb baseball player for Sonoma’s town team, and Carm was active in many community affairs, especially during World War II, when Rocco served as an infantryman in the South Pacific.

For nearly three decades, Carm and Rock ran the Creamery (across from the Mission), which had been built by Carm’s father, Joseph Vella. Sonomans frequented the Creamery as much to share conversations with Carm and Rock as to have lunch or an afternoon snack.

Always welcoming and gregarious, Carmela was happiest when surrounded by people. She would reminisce about trips she took to Oregon with Rocco, tell anecdotes, listen enthusiastically to Jerry playing with musician friends, and expound on Sonoma history and lore.

During that time, she was also one of the many “neighborhood moms” who collectively looked after not only their kids, but also their kids’ playmates.

Carm and Rock’s son, Jerry, and I were best buddies. There was always a group of neighborhood kids playing ball in the Benedettos’ backyard. Carm fed us and tolerated all of our rowdy behavior.

Carm was like a close aunt to me. She and my mom, Jean Lynch, were good friends and high school classmates. When Jerry and I weren’t playing at his house or mine, we would go down to the Creamery and persuade Carm to make us hamburgers. She always said yes.

I remember her being incredibly patient and generous. While she worked hard at the Creamery, she was also a dedicated mother who clearly liked kids.

The Creamery was also the favorite lunch and afternoon snack hangout for many Sonomans, especially those who worked on or near the Plaza. Carm had an encyclopedic memory when it came to old Sonoma families, including their children’s names. She outlived almost all of them.

Carmela Benedetto was truly a daughter of old Sonoma and, sadly, nearly the last of her generation. I still carry fond memories in my heart of those wonderful years when Jerry and I were kids and she took such loving care of us.

Carm is survived by her son, Jerry Benedetto; grandson, Rocky Benedetto and his wife, Britney; nephews Bob Anselmo of Sacramento and Rocky Anselmo of Arizona; and nieces Zolita Vella of New York City and Maria Vella of San Francisco.

At her request, no funeral services are planned.

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Bill Lynch is the former editor and co-publisher of The Sonoma Index-Tribune.

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