Our beloved mother, Filippina Gabriele, peacefully went home to be with the Lord on April 28,

2026.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Santo Gabriele; her son Antonio

Gabriele; and son-in-law David Thomas Farotto.

Filippina is survived by her five remaining children and their spouses: Peter (Rosemarie)

Gabriele, Carmen (Renee) Gabriele, Mary Gabriele Farotto, Susie (Nicholas) Owens, and Frank

(Vikki) Gabriele.

Her grandchildren: Stefanie Gabriele-Guzman, Geovoni Gabriele, Cheri Buzzetta, Carmen

Gabriele Jr., Christian Gabriele, Tony Gabriele Jr., Diana Gabriele, Felicia Farotto Ulibarri, Lisa

Farotto Traub, Lindsay Owens, and Megan Owens.

She also leaves behind 17 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, and numerous

nieces, nephews, and relatives in Italy.

Filippina was born on February 15, 1930, in Colosimi, Calabria, Italy, to Gaetano and Santa

Fuoco. She married her husband, Santo Gabriele, on June 18, 1949, in her hometown.

In 1956, at the age of 26, Filippina immigrated to the United States with her husband and

young family. After a brief time in San Jose, California, they settled in Hollister, where they

made their home and raised their six children.

A devoted homemaker and hard worker, she took on odd jobs to help her family make ends

meet. In 1963, she began working as a seasonal employee at Hollister Canning Company, later

becoming San Benito Foods, where she was a member of Teamsters Local 890 Union. She

worked for San Benito Foods for 36 years until she retired in 1999 at the age of 69.

In her retirement, Filippina found great joy in caring for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She expressed her love through cooking, and teaching her family how to make

her famous spaghetti sauce. She enjoyed traveling on bus trips to Reno and Las Vegas with

Marlene’s Tours, alongside many of her lifelong friends from the cannery. She also had a deep

passion for gardening and spent countless hours tending to her fruits and vegetables at her

home on Hawkins Street.

Filippina was very passionate about learning the English language and was able to fluently

speak Spanish with the help of her lifelong friends, Maria Gutierrez and Jesse Corona.

Together, they shared not only language, but culture and tradition—exchanging cherished

recipes and creating lasting memories.

With open arms, she welcomed friends, neighbors, and anyone in need into her home. No one

was ever turned away. Her warmth, generosity, and hospitality touched countless lives.

Filippina has left a legacy of love, kindness, and perseverance. We are deeply blessed to have

shared in her long and beautiful life. She is now at peace, rejoicing in eternal comfort and joy.

Ciao Ma, Nana, Phil, Felipa. comadre, and friend.

Visitation and Rosary

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Visitation: 9:00 a.m. | Rosary: 10:00 a.m.

Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Family Funeral Home

870 San Benito Street, Hollister, CA 95023

Catholic Mass

Tuesday, May 12, 2026 | 11:00 a.m.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church

520 College Street, Hollister, CA 95023

Graveside Service

Tuesday, May 12, 2026 | 12:00 p.m.

Calvary Cemetery

1100 Hillcrest Road, Hollister, CA 95023

Reception

Tuesday, May 12, 2026 | 1:00 p.m.

Paine’s Restaurant

421 East Street, Hollister, CA 95023

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to Sacred Heart Church in

Filippina’s memory