Mr Pete L. Cardella Jr.

Pete L. Cardella Jr, age 85, a native and lifelong resident of Firebaugh passed away on Sunday, March 11, 2018 after a brief illiness.

Born to Pete Cardella Sr. and Emma Orsi Cardella he grew up in Firebaugh attending elementary school and later graduated from Dos Palos High School in 1951 where he was involved in FFA and played baseball. He graduated from Fresno State where he earned in his Bachelors degree in Ag Science. Following college he served in the United States Army for two years. Returning from his military service he began his farming career which spanned 35 years, retiring in 1995,

He met and married Lorraine Furtado in 1955 in Los Banos, Ca. and would have celebrated 63 years of marriage this April. In the community of Firebaugh he was a member of the Firebaugh Lions Club, a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and a former member of the Y.M. I.

In addition to his parents, Pete was preceded in death by a sister Bruna Rebecchi.

Pete is survived by his wife Lorraine of Firebaugh, his children, Cindy Robertson and her husband Jeff and Chris Cardella and his wife Michelle all of Firebaugh, and Lynn Ellison and her husband James of Fresno. He is the brother of Lillian Bombardieri and her husband Jim of Aptos. He is the grandfather of Traci Robertson, JessIca Robertson, Dustin Ellison, Nicholas Ellison, Diana Reis and her husband Conlin, Steven Cardella and Jenna Cardella and is the great grandfather of Elaina Reis and Cassidy Reis.

Visitation will be on Sunday, March 18, 2018 from 2 to 5 PM at Jay Chapel in Madera.

Rosary will be recited on Monday, March 19, 2018 at 10:00 AM at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Firebaugh, followed by Funeral Mass at 10:30 AM.

Entombment will follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery Mausoleum in Fresno.

Remembrances may be made to Terry’s House at Community Regional Medical Fresno, c/o Community Medical Foundation c/o Community Medical Foundation, 1530 E. Shaw Avenue, Suite 106, Fresno, CA 93710 https://www.communitymedical.org/Make-a-Donation/Where-to-Donate or the Valley Children’s Hospital, 9300 Valley Children’s Hospital, 9300 Valley Children’s Place, Madera, CA 93636 https://www.valleychildrens.org/foundation/donate-to-valley-childrens.