News

Alfred Tamberi (92) passed away peacefully after a long illness on Monday, February 9, 2015 at the age of 92. He was born on May 30, 1922 to parents Paul and Marianna (Micheli) Tamberi.

Al attended local schools and graduated from Madera Union High School in 1941. He worked in the lumber industry and construction until his enlistment into the U.S. Army Air Forces/Army Air Corps during WWII. He saw action in Italy and while there was able to meet his namesake, his maternal grandfather, Alfredo Micheli in addition to all of his aunts and uncles in San Felippo, Lucca, Italy.

Lyndon Leroy Mandrell (75) after courageously fighting health issues for the last three and a half years, passed away Saturday, February 7, 2015, in Fresno, CA.

Lyndon was born on March 9, 1939, in Mountain View, OK, to Leonard and Amy Mandrell. He was the eldest of four children. In 1948, the family moved to California and settled in the Red Top area. He attended local schools and graduated from Chowchilla High School in 1958. After high school, Lyndon attended Modesto Jr. College until he was drafted into the U.S. Army where he served for four years.

Alan Dee Patchell (58) was born in Texas on July 2, 1956 and moved to California when he was only 3 years old. He graduated from Carpinteria High School and then served in the US Navy sub service. After the Navy Al went into law enforcement with Santa Barbara S.O.

He moved to Madera and worked at the Madera Jail and then Madera Probation Department. He retired December 2008 as Deputy Chief at Madera Juvenile Hall. He was an Elk and former Lion's Club member. He loved riding his motorcycle. Al will be missed by everyone whose life he touched.

Barbara Arlone Pistoresi (92) passed away on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 at the age of 92. A lifelong resident of Madera, she was born on September 23, 1922, the youngest daughter of Harold and Evelyn Conklin. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Pistoresi and her sisters, Eloise Mason and Ilene Klawitter.

She is survived by her son, Ron Pistoresi and his wife Ronda, her daughter, Dolores Young, her granddaughter, Deanna Young, two great-grandchildren, Trista and Matthew, and one great-great-grandson, Elliott. She is also survived by her beloved 4 legged companion, Fuzzy.

Richard Ambrose Farias (89), known to many as “Cardy,” was born December 7, 1925 in Culver City, CA , to Eugene Joseph and Juanita Peralta Farias. He was 89-years-old when he passed Wednesday, January 14, 2015, with his daughter, Carla, at his bedside.

The Farias family moved to the Dixieland area in the late twenties where Cardy attended Dixieland School. In 1943, he graduated from Madera High School and enlisted in the Army Air Corp. He served with the 8th Air Force, 493rd Bomb Group as a B-17 belly gunner and flew 25 missions while stationed in Debach, England.

Pastor Tim Bergdahl of the Madera Avenue Bible Church, met his Savior face to face on January 8, 2015. Timothy Allen Bergdahl was born February 9, 1959 in Castro Valley California. He was raised in San Lorenzo in a multicultural neighborhood, and early on formed a love for those of different faiths. That love grew into a passion for mission.

Tim’s first friend was books! He learned to read early on, and was often found with a book in hand. Once his cousin brought some friends over and introduced Tim saying, “This is my cousin Tim. He doesn’t talk. He reads”. Another time his parents couldn’t find him anywhere in the house, and finally found him on the top of the bookcase reading a book.