Mary Rita Browning

Passed away at her home in Sonoma, CA on Thursday, October 5, 2017. She was born in San Francisco on June 24, 1930 to Edmund Bacher Sr. and Katharina Zhmoberhaus Bacher.  She joined three older brothers Frank, Alfred, and Edmund Jr. at the family ranch in Vineburg, California.  Mary Rita graduated from Sonoma Valley High School in 1949.  On June 27, 1953 she married Jack H. Browning and became the step mother to David K. Browning, who was seven-years-old at the time.

Mary Rita worked at the Bank of America in Sonoma for 20 years.  She also worked at the Department of Motor Vehicles for 10 years, issuing license plates and stickers.  Mary Rita enjoyed gardening, dancing, crafts, and creating lace using the bobbin lace method.  She and Jack were members of the Lace Guild of Northern California and the folk-dance group, Valley of the Moon Swingers.  She was also a member of St. Francis Solano Catholic Church.  She and Jack loved to travel and joined friends on trips throughout the United States and to France, Holland, and Switzerland.  However, her greatest joy was spending time with Jack, David, James and Tim (her grandsons).  James and Tim spent several summers in Sonoma with Mary Rita and Jack.  She also treasured her time with her large extended family, her close friends, and her neighbors Marty and Carol Campbell and their children and grandchildren.  She will be remembered for her vitality, cheerfulness, activism, for always recycling, and for clipping coupons for nieces.

Mary Rita was preceded in death by her husband, Jack H. Browning, and by her brothers, Frank, Alfred, and Edmund Jr. and by her sister-in-law, Judy. Mary Rita is survived by David K. Browning of Dillon, MT; sister-in-laws Elsa and Cassie Bacher; grandsons, James Browning of Spokane, WA and Tim Browning of Dillon, MT; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Friends and family are invited to attend a visitation from 5-6 P.M. and a Rosary at 6 P.M. on Thursday, October 12, 2017 at Duggan’s Mission Chapel, 525 W Napa St in Sonoma. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, October 13, 2017 at 1 P.M. at St. Francis Solano Catholic Church, 469 3rd St W in Sonoma, with interment to follow at St. Francis Solano Catholic Cemetery, 550 E Napa St in Sonoma. 

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