Loretta Emily Borges

Our beloved mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and sister passed away peacefully on August 21, 2024, at the age of 82.

Loretta was born in Napa, California to Alexander Gonsalves and Emily Silva.  She was one of three children.  She is survived by her Daughter Leann, Son-in-Law Aaron, Grandson Brady and Brother Gary.

She grew up in Napa where she was a member of Redwood Jr. High School Chorus and sang at the Napa Kiwanis Club on a regular basis and received an award for Outstanding Singer.   She then started to sing at St. Apollinaris Church for weddings.  Upon graduating from Junior High, she attended Napa High School and was one of the top singers in her choir and became a member of the Napa Symphony – Choral Society and remained a member for six years.  She performed as lead singer in several musicals like Anything Goes, Oklahoma, and a soloist in the Candlelight Concert Series program at St. Apollinaris Church.  She also performed Handel’s Messiah at which time she was recognized in the local Napa Register newspaper several times throughout the years.  She also received a Certificate of Merit from the Music Teacher’s Association of California. After graduating, she went to beauty school and became a Stylist/Beautician and worked at various department stores in Napa.

In 1983 she re-married and moved to Sebastopol, California where she was able to take up various hobbies such as making her own jewelry, working with leather, learning the banjo and traveling to places like Portugal, Alaska, New Orleans, Hawaii and more.

In 1990 her husband passed, and she moved to Santa Rosa and enjoyed her retired life with her family making frequent trips to Tahoe and Reno where she gambled the nights away.

Visitation will be at 10 am and Funeral services with be held at 11 am on Friday, August 31, 2024, at Parent-Sorensen Mortuary; 301 South Main Street, Sebastopol, California 95472.   The burial will follow at Sebastopol Memorial Lawn, 7951 Bodega Avenue, Sebastopol, CA  95472.