Phyllis Julia Serafini

Phyllis SERAFINI

SERAFINI, Phyllis passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 18, 2018, in the presence of her family, with her three sons, Steven, David and Gerard, by her side, along with her daughters-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her family was originally from Italy's Marche region - east of Tuscany toward the Adriatic Sea. Phyllis was born on December 1, 1925, in Iron River, Michigan. Her family moved to San Francisco when she was four and lived in North Beach, or "Little Italy," as it was known. She was a Sonoma Valley resident for 63 years and began coming to the Valley when she was a young teenager, taking a ferry across the Bay and catching a train in Marin that eventually dropped her off at the Vineburg Train Station.

In mid-1940s San Francisco she met the love of her life, Aldo Serafini, at the Italian Marche Club, where they would attend dances. They were married on a rainy December day in 1947 at St. Francis of Assisi Church in North Beach, and preceded to have their sons in 1950 (Steven), 1954 (David) and 1963 (Gerard). She had so much love for her family and especially her late husband, Aldo, and now they are together again dancing with the stars.

Phyllis has been a staple in Sonoma, owning her catering business, Il Desinare Catering, running the original restaurant Gino's Ristorante on the Sonoma Plaza, working in local banks, and mentoring with the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Center. She belonged to numerous local clubs, including the Sons of Italy, Italian Catholic Federation, the Moose Lodge and Soroptomists.

Phyllis is preceded in death by her husband, Aldo; parents Costantino and Maria Zepponi; aunt Jane and uncle Armando Blasi; brother Gino Zepponi; and close cousin Judy Bacher. She is survived by her large, wonderful family - in which she bestowed her values of love and honor - including her sons, Steven (Margaret), David (Mary Ellen), and Gerard (Mary); grandchildren David (Melissa), Azure (Alex), Sola (Jordan), Mario (Suzanne), Zoerima (David), Giordi and Max; great-grandchildren Allison, Guiliana, Olivia, Guiseppe, Nova and Dakota. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Barbara Zepponi, and numerous nieces and nephews. We love you forever Mom, Nonna, Bis-Nonna and, to so many others, Phyllis.

Also, special thanks to Dr. Doug Campbell, the nurses and staff at Sonoma Valley Hospital, and all the staff at Brookdale Sonoma.

A viewing and rosary will be held at 4 p.m. on Sunday, January 28, in Duggan's Mission Chapel, 525 W. Napa St., Sonoma, CA; with a funeral and mass taking place at 1 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 29, in St. Francis Solano Church, 469 Third St. W., Sonoma, CA.

Donations in her name may be the choice of the donator, or to the American Heart Association , or American Cancer Society .

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Phyllis Julia Serafini, please visit our floral store.