Individual Details
Bernice L. Griffith
(October 31, 1924 - January 29, 1996)
"Berneice Berretta lived at Santa Rosa, California. A library there was named after her." (Wilma Griffith, Mason, Texas, 1996.)
"Bernice L. Beretta died at her Santa Rosa home Monday after a long illness. She was 71. A native of Mason, Texas, she moved to Sonoma County with her family at a young age. Mrs. Beretta was a member of the Bellevue School District Board for more than 28 years. The library of the new Meadow View Elementary School is to be named after her. She was a member of the North Bay Dairy Women, California Women for Agriculture, Sonoma - Marin Italian Club and Sons of Italy. She is survived by her sons Robert Beretta of Santa Rosa, Stanley Beretta of Petaluma and Arthur Beretta of Santa Rosa; eight grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Joe Beretta. Funeral Arrangements are pending at Parent - Sorensen Mortuary." (PETALUMA, ARGUS - COURIER, Petaluma, California, January 30, 1996, page 3A; and THE PRESS DEMOCRAT, January 31, 1996.)
"Senior farming, education advocate Beretta dies, by Tim Tesconi, Staff Writer. Bernice Beretta, whose love for children and dedication to Sonoma County agriculture thrust her leadership roles in both education and farming, died Monday at her Santa Rosa dairy ranch following a yearlong battle with cancer. She was 71. Beretta was the longest serving trustee in the history of the Bellevue Union School District, holding a seat on the board for the past 28 years.
" "Bernice was not only loved and respected by the children and teachers in our schools, but by the families in our community. Until the end, she was dedicated to providing services to the children and staff of the district," said Armando Flores, Bellevue's district superintendent. Flores said when Beretta attended her last meeting in December, fellow trustees announced the library at the proposed Meadow View School on South Dutton Avenue in Santa Rosa would be named the Bernice L. Beretta Media Center. "Bernice was so proud that the library would be named for her. The children of the district were very important to her. She believed in education and the value of learning," said Cecilia Mello, a friend for 40 years whose dairy ranch borders the Beretta Dairy on Llano Road.
"A native of Mason, Texas, Beretta lived in Sonoma County for 68 years and was involved in the dairy industry all of her adult life. Beretta and Mello were both active in many agricultural organizations including California Women for Agriculture and the North Bay Dairywomen. They traveled up and down the state to meet with legislators on farm related issues and to champion the cause of farmers. They would carry picket signs to protest low milk prices or threats to farmland. "We went all over together and fought for all of agriculture, not just the dairy industry," said Mello. When not promoting farm products or handing out free samples of Sonoma County milk at fairs and farm days, mello and Beretta would walk the country roads near their dairy ranches. "We walked together. We dieted together. She even got me to join a jazzercise class. Boy am I going to miss her," Mello said." (THE PRESS DEMOCRAT, February 1, 1996.)
"Bernice L. Beretta died at her Santa Rosa home Monday after a long illness. She was 71. A native of Mason, Texas, she moved to Sonoma County with her family at a young age. Mrs. Beretta was a member of the Bellevue School District Board for more than 28 years. The library of the new Meadow View Elementary School is to be named after her. She was a member of the North Bay Dairy Women, California Women for Agriculture, Sonoma - Marin Italian Club and Sons of Italy. She is survived by her sons Robert Beretta of Santa Rosa, Stanley Beretta of Petaluma and Arthur Beretta of Santa Rosa; eight grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Joe Beretta. Funeral Arrangements are pending at Parent - Sorensen Mortuary." (PETALUMA, ARGUS - COURIER, Petaluma, California, January 30, 1996, page 3A; and THE PRESS DEMOCRAT, January 31, 1996.)
"Senior farming, education advocate Beretta dies, by Tim Tesconi, Staff Writer. Bernice Beretta, whose love for children and dedication to Sonoma County agriculture thrust her leadership roles in both education and farming, died Monday at her Santa Rosa dairy ranch following a yearlong battle with cancer. She was 71. Beretta was the longest serving trustee in the history of the Bellevue Union School District, holding a seat on the board for the past 28 years.
" "Bernice was not only loved and respected by the children and teachers in our schools, but by the families in our community. Until the end, she was dedicated to providing services to the children and staff of the district," said Armando Flores, Bellevue's district superintendent. Flores said when Beretta attended her last meeting in December, fellow trustees announced the library at the proposed Meadow View School on South Dutton Avenue in Santa Rosa would be named the Bernice L. Beretta Media Center. "Bernice was so proud that the library would be named for her. The children of the district were very important to her. She believed in education and the value of learning," said Cecilia Mello, a friend for 40 years whose dairy ranch borders the Beretta Dairy on Llano Road.
"A native of Mason, Texas, Beretta lived in Sonoma County for 68 years and was involved in the dairy industry all of her adult life. Beretta and Mello were both active in many agricultural organizations including California Women for Agriculture and the North Bay Dairywomen. They traveled up and down the state to meet with legislators on farm related issues and to champion the cause of farmers. They would carry picket signs to protest low milk prices or threats to farmland. "We went all over together and fought for all of agriculture, not just the dairy industry," said Mello. When not promoting farm products or handing out free samples of Sonoma County milk at fairs and farm days, mello and Beretta would walk the country roads near their dairy ranches. "We walked together. We dieted together. She even got me to join a jazzercise class. Boy am I going to miss her," Mello said." (THE PRESS DEMOCRAT, February 1, 1996.)
Events
| Birth | October 31, 1924 | Mason, Mason County, Texas | |||
| Death | January 29, 1996 | Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California | |||
| Burial | January 31, 1996 | Calvary Catholic Cemetery, California | |||
| Marriage | Joseph "Joe" Beretta |
Families
| Spouse | Joseph "Joe" Beretta (1908 - 1982) |
| Child | Robert Beretta ( - ) |
| Child | Stanley Beretta ( - ) |
| Child | Arthur Beretta ( - ) |
| Father | Walter Richard B. "Dick" Griffith (1900 - 1975) |
| Mother | Leona Vaughn (1904 - 1979) |
| Sibling | Blanche L. Griffith (1921 - ) |
| Sibling | Walter Griffith ( - ) |