Grace Mary Leonti Tomasello, born June 1, 1924, in Corona, died
May 13, 2003, in Gilroy.
Grace Mary Leonti Tomasello, born June 1, 1924, in Corona, died May 13, 2003, in Gilroy.
Upon the death of her mother at an early age, Grace was raised by her aunt, Teresa Puliafico. Grace graduated from Live Oak High School in 1944 and was married to John Joseph Tomasello on Sept. 5, 1948. They lived in San Francisco, where her children were born, and moved to Gilroy in 1959. She worked for Filice and Pirrelli Canning Co. for more than 20 years. She was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church and the local Sons of Italy Chapter. She was a loving mother and grandmother. Her interests included gardening, cooking Sunday meals for her family, playing bingo at the Senior Citizens Center and at Gilroy Healthcare, and watching movies.
Mrs. Tomasello is survived by her son and his wife, Sal and Annie Tomasello of Gilroy, her son and his wife, Frank and Carol Tomasello of Fresno, her son and his girlfriend, John Tomasello and Linda Stites (and her daughter Laura Miller) of Gilroy. She is the grandmother of Melissa and Chip Beardsley, Mark Tomasello, Joe Tomasello and Rick Tomasello and great-grandmother of Andrea Tomasello and Jacob Beardsley.
Mrs. Tomasello was married to her late husband, John Joseph Tomasello, for 32 years, before he died in 1980. She is the daughter of the late Paulina Puliafico and Frank Leonti and the sister of the late Rose Bozzo.
Services will begin at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Habing Family Funeral Home, Gilroy, followed by Vigil and Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. at St. Mary Church. The Mass will be celebrated by her nephew Father Vince Mesi, pastor of the Mission in Santa Barbara. Burial will follow the Mass at St. Mary Cemetery, Gilroy.
Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
The family asks that any donations be made to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life (Gilroy) or the Gilroy Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, 8170 Murray Ave. Gilroy, CA 95020.
