Antonio "Tony" Bento Laureano

Antonio “Tony” Bento Laureano died at home surrounded by family on February 20, 2025. He was 98 years old.

Tony immigrated to the United States from the Azores in 1958 and came to live with his sister in California. He originally worked as a shepherd but found that he preferred doing ranch work on a dairy. He got a job in Sebastopol on the Peter’s dairy for a short time. He left the dairy and went to work at McNear’s Brick Yard in San Rafael for many years. He was then able to get a job at Sonoma State College, close to home, in the Grounds Operations Department. He worked there until his retirement in 1989. Tony loved working outdoors, tending his garden, raising a beef steer and keeping his property looking beautiful. He loved tinkering on just about anything, from cars to lawnmowers to plumbing and was our true “fix-it” man. Later in life his other love was his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He settled in Penngrove with his wife, Olga Laureano, where they started their family.

He is pre-deceased by his wife of over 60 years, Olga Laureano; he is survived by his daughters, Gloria (Herman) Lopes, Nancy (Dominic) Grossi, and Lisa (Joe) Hartman; his grandchildren, Ami, David (McKayla), Morgan, Jack, Bryce and Paige; his great-grand daughters, Paisley and Sophie. Tony was a proud member of the Portuguese Holy Ghost Societies of Petaluma, Novato, Sebastopol and Sausalito, as well as the Senhor Santo Cristo Society.

Family and friends are invited to attend the Rosary at Parent-Sorensen in Petaluma on Sunday, March 9th at 6pm – visitation is 4-7pm. Funeral Mass will be at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Cotati on Monday, March 10th at 12 noon; interment at 1:30pm at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Petaluma.

Reception to follow at the Portuguese Holy Ghost Hall in Petaluma on Bodega Avenue. The family asks that instead of flowers to make donations to Hospice, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, COTS of Petaluma or Benioff Children’s Hospital.