Velia Pagliaroli

Velia PagliaroliNov. 24, 1927 - June 23, 2020San JoseWith profound sadness we announce the passing of Velia Pagliaroli (nee Maragoni), lovingmother, grandmother and great-grandmother and friend to all whose lives she touched. Sheleft us in the early morning hours on the Eve of St John the Baptist Feast Day, Tuesday, June 23,2020 in San Jose, California. Born on November 24, 1927, she was 92 years old. She was theonly girl of five siblings born to Cesareo and Adele Maragoni and was looking forward toentering "Paradise" to be with them again.Born and raised in the coastal town of Terracina, Italy, Velia fondly spoke of her experiencesand memories from childhood for the rest of her life. After World War II she and her immediatefamily emigrated to Toronto, Canada, and subsequently married Lamberto Pagliaroli on May 5,1956. He predeceased her in 2018 after 62 years of marriage. Velia was a trailblazer for wanting her only child, Arlene, to be born a US Citizen. At 8 monthspregnant, she boarded a train and headed to Oakland, CA where she would give birth to herdaughter before returning to Canada. She received her Canadian Citizenship on November 19,1965. Her entire family was sponsored to come to the US. In keeping the family unit intact,Velia & Lamberto followed, and emigrated to San Jose, CA permanently in September of 1968.She received her US Citizenship on December 13, 1974.In Toronto, Velia sold Avon and was a seamstress. She continued with Avon in Californiaachieving President's Club status for 20 straight years. She also worked in the packing industryat Del Monte and Valley View Packing Co. She enjoyed showering people with her cooking, andcatered calzone and spaghetti lunches to the Capitol Auto Row car dealership employees. Hergarden produced bountiful figs and lemons which she would barter with other Italians for fishalong Monterey Wharf. She was a pillar of Holy Family Parish in SJ, where masses were originally held in the garage hall.Knowing funds were needed to raise the church, she started the Italian Sausage booth for theirfestivals, and continued volunteering her time, even crocheting table runners for the alters andsinging in the choir.Throughout her life she held strong to her Italian roots, Catholic faith, and most importantly,her family by showering them with lots of amore and of course, home-made Italian food. Velia(known to her grandchildren as "Nonna" and to her great-grandchildren, as "Old Nonna"), willbe remembered as a giving person- kind and generous to a fault. No one ever left her homeempty handed or hungry.In her retirement years, she enjoyed babysitting her grandchildren, visiting with friends,knitting, crocheting, sewing, gardening, reading her missal books, and holding cooking classes inher home. Velia leaves behind her daughter, Arlene E. Peterson, grandchildren Andrew C. Peterson (andwife Tan), Christopher A. Peterson (and wife Christine), and Laura L Peterson, and great-grandchildren Charlotte S. Peterson, and Austin C. Peterson, with a third sibling on the way, andbrother Gino Maragoni, as well as many nieces and nephews in California, Canada, and Italy.Unfortunately, with the Covid-19 pandemic guidelines set by Santa Clara County, services willbe limited to immediate family only. We welcome you to join us in a live stream of the FuneralMass on Thursday, July 9 , 2020, beginning at 11AM via Zoom.Please follow these simple instructions and join us to celebrate her life:Topic: Velia Pagliaroli Funeral ServiceTime: Jul 9, 2020 11:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us04web.zoom.us/j/78217232712?pwd=WlBxUUxudEZHNmprYnREMTZDZmZlUT09Meeting ID: 782 1723 2712Password: 205733Dial by your location: +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)Meeting ID: 782 1723 2712Password: 205733Find your local number: https://us04web.zoom.us/u/fds3KeZD2JCondolences may be sent to Chapel of Flowers, 900 S. 2 nd Street, San Jose, CA 95112 by Wed,July 8, 2020. View the online memorial for Velia Pagliaroli