By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Johnnie Santini
Placeholder Image
Johnnie Marie Santini was the youngest of three children born to Edward Frank and Daisy Williamson in Blanchard, Louisiana, where she lived until moving to Caddo Lake in Mooringsport, Louisiana. There she and her brothers Frank Edward and William Darius spent a very happy childhood among numerous friends and relatives. They enjoyed working with their father who owned a fish market and was a commercial fisherman. She learned to fish and row a boat and was sometimes hired to row people out to fish, earning ten cents for an afternoon of work. When her dad bought an ice house, she and her brothers helped deliver ice to their many customers.

During WWII she began working for the KCS-L&A Railroad in Shreveport where she met many people who became her lifelong friends. It was on a train trip to Washington State that she met a soldier named Vincent Santini who became her husband on May 11, 1946. She left her beloved South and moved to Sexton Road in Escalon, California, where she lived for the rest of her life.

Johnnie loved working in her garden. Her backyard was always a gathering place for family and friends where many celebrations took place. She was a wonderful cook and hostess and often had friends and family over for sumptuous meals. As recent as the evening before she fell ill she hosted a dinner party for friends.

She loved her family dearly.

Johnnie's passing will truly leave a hole in many hearts. She will always be greatly missed.

Survivors include her daughters, Becky Price (Noel), Tammy Matthews (Johnny) and son Jim Santini (Ann); seven granddaughters Regan Freitas (Tony), Lindsay Santini-Pinheiro (Jason), Nicolle Rosenberg (Jake), Noelle and Ellie Matthews, Jamie and Amanda Santini; and two great grandsons, Aaron and Ashton Freitas.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, and by her beloved husband Vince in 1993.

The family would like to thank Bethany Home for the wonderful love and care their staff provided.

Visitation was at Deegan Funeral Chapel on Saturday, Feb. 2 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Rosary and Funeral Mass was at St. Patrick's Catholic Church on Monday, Feb. 4.

Memorial Donations may be made to Escalon Community Ambulance, 1480 Ullrey Ave., Escalon, CA 95320 or Bethany Home, 930 W. Main Street, Ripon, CA 95366.

The Riverbank (Calif.) News

Feb. 6, 2013