Christine Elizabeth Wolfenden

Longtime Sonoma Valley resident Tina Wolfenden passed away in her home on June 11th, surrounded by family. After a battle with poor health that curbed her larger than life presence, Tina’s family is relieved for her to have found peace.

Born in New Rochelle, NY in 1938, Tina attended Catholic schools and later enrolled at Hunter College. She followed her Italian-American family west when her parents relocated to Oakland in the fifties, transferring to UC Berkeley. She met and married her first husband James soon after. Before long, she brought her young family to Sonoma. Tina spent the next five decades as a business and community leader, beloved mother, revered grandmother, and cherished great grandmother. Her second husband Robert passed in 2008.

From St. Francis Solano to Soroptimist, Sonoma Valley Hospital to our local schools, Tina lived a life in service to her community. A tireless volunteer, a generous philanthropist, a top-notch fundraiser, her staunch commitment to the people of this valley produced career and adulthood training programs at Sonoma Valley High School, countless 4th of July parades, visits from Santa at the Plaza, a term in the California Senior Legislature as a district Assemblywoman, and financial stewardship that helped to grow local healthcare services and church programs.

Tina is survived by her three daughters: Enrica, Helen, and Cristina; sons-in-law: Charlie, Dave, and Ryan; five grandchildren: Louie, Chris, Sam, Zach, and Rosie; two great grandchildren: Charlie and Cecily; three siblings: Sal, Rose Marie, and Louie; as well as countless friends, colleagues, and fellow Sonomans that will miss her dearly.

A service will be held for Tina on Monday, June 18th at St. Francis Solano at 10:30 AM, followed by a memorial at Father Roberts Hall, both open to the public. 

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