Lavada Marie (WILLMIRTH) MUSETTI

WILLMIRTH, MUSETTI, ARMSTRONG, BEAR, MAGGARD, DULY

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/13/2009 at 02:32:57

OBITUARY

Lavada MUSETTI was born in Keysport, Illinois [February 17, 1915], moved to Selma, California, in 1923 and to Antioch in 1942.

She was the eldest and last surviving of 4 children. She was also preceded in death by her husband of 27 years, Mondo MUSETTI, a long time bartender at Marchettis Restaurant.

The skills she learned in the Central Valley orchards got her started working at the local Antioch canneries. She left those to work at the old Fibreboard plant on L Street where she eventually became a press operator. One often told story occurred on especially hot summer days, when she would purposely jam up the press in order to give the young men who handled the paper a break from their grueling tasks. Her 11 year job of walking door to door, collecting payment for the Antioch Disposal Service, allowed her to meet many of the local residents and kept her in good shape long before the tread mills became popular.

The PTA made her a lifetime member for her many years of supporting elementary, jr. high and high school activities. The Antioch High School overflowing band bus was always trailed by Lavada's car filled with the extra instruments. She was also deeply involved with the Boy Scouts, often driving carloads to summer and winter camps. Lavada continued to support the community by working the election boards in her later years, ending with just the last election.

Lavada was a kind, generous, family oriented person. She was an excellent seamstress and enjoyed a variety of arts and crafts, especially those that became gifts for children. Throughout her 83 years, she gave far more than she received, just the way she always wanted it to be. She lived a simple, but full life. She will be missed by many.

Her daughter Marilyn Ross of Vallejo; her son Robert MUSETTI of Cupertino; 7 grandchildren; Sandy, Debbie, Toni, Vicki, Norman, Irene and Robin; 11 great-grandchildren: Bobby, "EJ", Kimberly, Angie, Nikki, Rocky, Stephanie, Stacy, Wesley, Christina and Eli, and 2 great-grandchildren: Janay and Ebony, survive her.

NOTE: Lavada was the daughter of Leona Myrtle (ARMSTRONG) and William Joel WILLMIRTH; granddaughter of Dollie Ann (BEAR) ARMSTRONG MAGGARD; and great-granddaughter of Solomon and Amanda Elvina (DULY) BEAR.

Transcription & note by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2009