News

Cristian Jonathan Ramirez (17) passed away on November 7th, 2017 at Valley Children’s Hospital. Cristian was born in Madera on January 21, 2000 to Misael and Araceli (Macedo) Ramirez. Cristian attended Madera High School, where he was a member of the Varsity Soccer Team and a dedicated student.

Soccer was his passion; he started playing at the mere age of 4 1/2 years old. He was an all-around athlete, learning to ride a bike at the age of 2 (without training wheels), winning 1st place at a Jiu Jitsu tournament at the age of 12, and succeeding at any sport he set his mind to. He had academic aspirations to be an architect and to attend a well-recognized four year university.

Anthony Joseph Basila (96) died Friday, November 3, after a brief illness. He was born to Sultana and Joseph Basila in Sanger, CA, on October 17, 1921. The family moved to Madera a few years later. Since the 1930s, Tony lived in the family home except for his service during World War II and the last 11 months of his life.

At age seven, he began helping on the family farm and worked until he was 93. He grew cotton, grapes, almonds and pistachios. He went to Ripperdan Elementary School and graduated from Madera High School in 1940.

Frances Chapa (87) passed away peacefully at her Madera home on Wednesday, October 11, 2017 surrounded by her loving family. Frances was born to Juan and Francisca Rubio on June 4, 1930 in Madera. She has been a lifelong resident of Madera, and worked for over 20 years as a sorter for Oberti Olives. Frances loved to dance and cook meals for her family. She also enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren during their family gatherings. Frances was an avid word search player and also loved to go and watch her grandchildren’s school and sporting events.

Frances was preceded in death by her parents, her two brothers, Manual Rubio and Sal Rubio, and her four sisters, Blanche Hernandez, Carmen Reyna, Jennie Rubio and Mary Crandall.

Bud Leach (84) passed away peacefully on October 1st, 2017 at Cedar Creek. He was born on April 19th, 1933 in Meeker, OK to D.L. and Martha Leach. His family moved to California when Bud was only six months old. Until his retirement in 2008, Bud farmed in the Dixieland area for over 50 years growing alfalfa, cotton and almonds. He was a kind and gentle man and would do anything for his family. He will be greatly missed.

Bud loved God, family, spending time in the mountains, RVing to different places, and watching the San Francisco Giants and the 49ers. He especially looked forward to his annual deer hunting pack trips to String Meadow with his family and friends. Bud also enjoyed his grandchildren; they held a very special place in his heart.

Emma A. Minnite-Gilio (94), our beautiful mother, grandmother, and sister, passed away on the morning of Tuesday, September 26, 2017. Emma was born on March 27, 1923, in Spring Glen, Utah, the seventh of ten children of Italian immigrants Giovanni Minnite and Gelsomina Marchese-Minnite. In 1932 her family settled in Fresno, California, where Emma attended Columbia Elementary School and Edison High, from which she graduated in 1941.

In 1941, she married James J. Gilio, and together they ran Gilio’s Market in Cantua Creek, California. After Jim’s death in 1973, Emma continued to operate the store with her son Larry. Emma’s loved ones who predeceased her include her husband and parents; siblings Phyllis, Jennie, Chris, Pete, Ralph, Raymond, and Regge; and grandson Larry Gilio, Jr.

Marcella Oberti (107) passed away peacefully surrounded by her devoted family on September 22, 2017. Marcella was preceded in death by her husband, Frank J. Oberti in 1984. Marcella was born in San Francisco, California on December 6, 1909. At the age of five years old, Marcella participated in the 1913 Pan-Pacific Exposition.

As a young girl, she attended Montessori School in San Francisco. Upon graduating from High School, she attended the University of California in Berkeley where she majored in English Literature and Languages. She graduated from Berkeley in 1932 and went to work at the Bank of Italy in the Legal Department.