May 22, 1933 - May 24, 2017
Caterina Cirelli Lavagnino passed peacefully from this life on May 24, 2017, just two days after her 84th birthday. Caterina was born on May 22, 1933 in the northern Italian village of Santa Maria di Maissana to Maria and Cristoforo Cirelli. Caterina, their oldest daughter, spent her childhood between her Uncle, Monsignor Cirelli’s church and among the vineyard covered hills in a centuries old house during a very tumultuous time in Italian and World history. Her upbringing laid the foundation for her strong Catholic faith in God and nurtured her love for cooking and gardening.
She married Rocco G. Lavagnino, the eldest son of Rachele and Stefano Lavagnino from the same village in 1951. Within a month, they set off for Buenos Aires, Argentina seeking better post-war opportunities. It was there that their two sons, Roque (1951) and Joseph (1954), were born. In Buenos Aires, they owned a series of Italian style delicatessens. The hours in the delicatessen were long and hard, but you would never know based on how she took care of her family and home and how fondly she always spoke of that time.
In 1967, the family started the process of moving to California after her Great-Uncle Rocco encouraged their family to create a better life in America. They settled on a 42-acre ranch in Galt, growing walnuts, grapes, alfalfa and olives and making wine and oil. They grew many varieties of fruit trees, vegetables and flowers, particularly roses and orchids, even grafting and propagating new plants. She also became a U.S. citizen and learned to speak English, of which she was very proud (having a 6th grade level of education in Italy).
Caterina was a parishioner of St. Christopher’s Church in Galt for over 45 years. She used to provide weekly floral arrangements for mass in the old church parish. She loved to sing, and was a member of the choir for almost 40 years. Christmas performances were a special favorite.
Caterina was often found in the kitchen as well, cooking her famous ravioli, gnocchi, pesto, red sauce and lasagna. In addition to ensuring all were well fed, she taught her sons and granddaughters to cook many things. She regularly cooked for the Knights of Columbus, particularly some of the big dinners like the crab feeds. She also often brought culinary treats to the priests, and cooked for the annual parish dinners.
She is survived by her sister Anna Carabelli of Italy, her sons Roque and Joseph, her grandchildren Lisa, Jennifer, and John, and her beloved great-grandsons Iain and Sam. Caterina also has multiple cousins, nieces and nephews in Italy and Argentina.
Caterina was preceded in death by her cherished husband in August 1994 and has missed him greatly over the last 23 years, always looking to the day that she would be reunited with him. She was also preceded in death by her father (1967), her mother (2004), her brother Guillermo (2016), and younger brother (who died very young).
Though her body was diminished by time, her faith in God and love for her family and friends never were.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation on behalf of Caterina Lavagnino to the St. Christopher Church Building Fund.
VISITATION
Services include the following: Vigil with rosary in the Evergreen Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park, Hwy 99 at Harney Lane, Lodi,CA 95240, on Thursday, June 1st at 7:30 pm, with visitation and viewing beginning at 4 pm.
SERVICES
A funeral Mass will be held at St. Christopher’s Catholic Church (950 S Lincoln Way, Galt) on Friday, June 2nd at 10 am. Interment later in Santa Maria di Maissana, Italy.