Albert Battiste Ghidinelli passed away Sept. 14, 2015 peacefully in his home in Ferndale.

He was born Aug. 23, 1928 to Andrew and Agnes Ghidinelli of Ferndale and lived there his entire life, with the exception of a few years spent stationed at Fort Lewis, Wash. Albert was very fond of his time in the service with his newlywed wife, Virginia, and would reminisce of their time there often. It was in Washington that he and Virginia discovered Carnation Dairy and found the inspiration to have their own herd of all white Holstein cows. This dream became a reality when he and Virginia moved back to Ferndale and started Pleasant Point Dairy. Albert took great pride in his white herd and looked forward to receiving new bells brought over from Switzerland every year which he would place around the neck of the cows.

Albert believed in hard work and an honest living. Everyone who knew Albert knew his dairy was his passion in life. He was a very dedicated and hard worker, milking cows all the way up to age 83. He wouldn’t miss a single milking if he could help it! Albert was a proud Swiss-Italian and enjoyed the sound of an accordion. He often would play polka music in the milk parlor, insisting the cows milked better while it played. In his later years he enjoyed sitting on the front porch of his home enjoying the view of his cows grazing in the field with his cat, Sassy, by his side. He always had visitors “coming and going” (as he would say) to stop by and see him up until his final days.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Virginia; his brother Andrew Jr and his wife Betty. He is survived by his children, Michael (Darla) Ghidinelli, Tom Ghidinelli, and Marjorie Ghidinelli; his grandchildren, Chris (Christina) Ghidinelli, Scott Ghidinelli, Nicole Ghidinelli, Meagan (Paul) Deck, Kayla Ghidinelli, Mason Walker; and great-grandchildren Hailey Ghidinelli, and Ethan Ghidinelli. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and brothers-in-law Conrad and Lonnie Will and Robert Ladone Will.

Services will be at Ferndale Catholic Church on Friday at 7 p.m.; Rosary Funeral Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Reception will follow; location will be announced.

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The obituary above was submitted by Albert Ghidinelli’s Manila family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.