Obituary of Fernanda C. Vitali October 14, 1923 – October 21, 2018 70 year Resident of Felton The recitation of the Holy Rosary and Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday in Felton, for Fernanda Vitali who passed away this past weekend at the age of 95. Born in Seriate, Italy, in the region of Lombardia, Fernanda came to the United States via Ellis Island in 1948. Her husband Tony, had already established US citizenship and resided in Felton.
Fernanda journeyed across the United States, arriving in Felton to rejoin her husband on Halloween evening 70 years ago. Her family fondly remembers the stories of Fernanda’s unfamiliarity with the Halloween tradition of children asking for candy, and for lack of anything else in the house, giving out chocolate liqueur candies to the trick-or-treaters. A lifelong parishioner of St. John’s Catholic Church in Felton, she attended mass in the original Felton Community Hall and had her eldest daughter baptized there before the church was built in the mid 1950’s.
Fernanda was a member of the church’s altar society, and worked for many years down the street at the former Costella’s Chalet, where she was affectionately known as the “Salad Lady”. Fernanda will be remembered as a loving and devoted mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, whose simple joys in life included preparing wonderful meals for her family and friends, and growing beautiful flowers and vegetables in her garden. She is survived by her two daughters and sons-in-law, Zizi and Larry Rothfuss of Murphys, CA; and Ellen and Richard Metcalf of Copperopolis, CA.
She also leaves her adoring grandchildren: Brian and Patricia, and her great granddaughter, Olivia. Fernanda was preceded in death by her beloved husband Tony Vitali in 1964, her brother, Lino Mondoni in 1991, and her mother Theresa Mondoni in 1994. Her family will forever be grateful of the care Fernanda received at Santa Cruz Post-Acute Convalescent Home where she has resided for the past 5 years.
The love and friendship that Fernanda shared with her aid, Rosalva, will always be cherished. The recitation of the rosary will begin at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, October 31, at St. John’s Catholic Church (Russell Ave and Highway 9 in Felton) and the mass will begin immediately following the rosary. She will be laid to rest beside her late husband Tony and her mother Theresa at Holy Cross Mausoleum in Santa Cruz, later in the afternoon.
Kind acts of charity can be made in the offering of a mass through St. John’s Church or to the Alzheimer’s Association of Santa Cruz.
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