Maryfrancis Avitabile, age 86, died on April 20, 2010, in Lompoc, CA. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
Mary was born in Chicago, Illinois, on October 31, 1923, to Francis and Celestine St. Peter. The family moved to Los Angeles in 1927. She graduated from St. Monica's High School in Santa Monica, CA, and attended UCLA. She married her childhood sweetheart, Bill Avitabile, on July 9, 1945. They moved to Santa Barbara in 1954 where they lived and raised their seven children. Bill and Mary moved to Lompoc, CA, in 1985.
In Santa Barbara, Mary was an active participant in San Roque Parish, San Roque School and Bishop Diego High School activities. She was a Girl Scout leader and a member of the Catholic Daughters of America where she served as Grand Regent. She also enjoyed her years as a member of the San Roque Saints bowling league. In Lompoc, she was an active member of her church crafting and quilting club.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, and is survived by her children: Suzanne Roberts (Tom), Jennifer Moore, Sharon Cooper (Ron), William (Catherine), Rosemary Einolander (Warren), Phillip (Karen), and Maryfrancis Johnson (Eric); her grandchildren: Linda, Barbara, Gina, Christina, Patricia, Robert, Margaret, Mario, Dominic, Joseph, Dante, Anthony, Francis, Maria, Rafael, Emily, Vanessa, Madalyn, Nathan, and Nina; and great-grandchildren: Jacob, Ella, Elise, Andrew, and Susannah. She is also survived by her sisters, Mona Wilke and Joan Grimaldi, and several nieces and nephews.
A rosary service will be held at Queen of Angels Catholic Church, 3495 Rucker Road, Lompoc, CA, on Sunday, April 25 at 5:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday April 26 at 10:00 a.m. at Queen of Angels Catholic Church, with Rev. Msgr. John Fitzgerald officiating. Burial will follow at Lompoc Cemetery, 600 South C Street, Lompoc, CA.