Mary F. Bianchi

Mary F. Bianchi - Mary Bianchi passed away in Petaluma on April 8, 2009. Devoted wife of the late August "Gus""" Bianchi. Loving sister of Joseph Santero, and the late Victoria Reichmuth, Barney Santero, John Santero, Peter Santero, Angelo Santero and Nick Santero. Dear sister-in-law of Evelin K. Santero and Louise Santero. Cherished aunt of Gary and Reta Santero of Cotati, Barry and Lois Santero of Penngrove, Chris Santero, Ken and Cody Santero, Katie and Mike Raffo, Nick and Caitlin Santero. Survived by numerous other loving nieces and nephews. Although childless, she embraced her many nephews and nieces as if they were her own. She was their beloved aunt and will be sorely missed and fondly remembered by them. "" Visitation will be held on Monday, April 13, 2009 from 11:00a.m. until 8:00 p.m. at PARENT-SORENSEN MORTUARY & CREMATORY, 850 Keokuk St., Petaluma with a Vigil at 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 150 St. Joseph Way, Cotati, CA. Entombment: Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Petaluma. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions to the Hanna Boys Center of Sonoma, the American Cancer Society, or the charity of your choice. Mary Bianchi was born on January 6, 1911 to Bernardo and Guistina Santero, early Italian immigrants to Cotati, CA, where she grew up on the family vegetable farm. She moved to San Francisco, CA as a young woman, where she was employed and later met and married her husband, Gus. The couple returned to Cotati, where they built a home from which they operated a produce box business and where they lived for the remainder of their lives. Mrs. Bianchi was employed in the poultry processing business for many years, retaining those skills throughout her life. When her nephew, Gary and his wife decided to raise laying hens and discovered to their dismay that they had roosters in the mix, Mary (at age 95) made short work of butchering and dressing the chickens in her basement kitchen while they looked on amazed. Soon the task was done and they were all drinking coffee and visiting! Mary and her husband, Gus, enjoyed hosting many memorable parties for family and friends in that same basement party room over the years. Mr. Bianchi passed away in 1986. Mary had a strong work ethic, was a wonderful Italian cook who learned the Old World ways of cooking from her mother and delighted in teaching interested family members how to make many of her specialty dishes, including gnocchis, raviolis, and polenta.