Aldo Bongio passed away unexpectedly at home on Dec. 11, 2017, at the age of 89.

He was born April 19, 1928, in Scotia, to Vincenzo and Mary Bongio. Aldo attended the Bluff Prairie Elementary School in Shively and graduated from Fortuna High School in 1946. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1946 to 1948 in Panama and graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in 1951 with a degree in Architectural Industries.

In September, 1951 he married Evelyn Pesenti of Templeton and began working for Ernest Pierson as a carpenter. In 1953, he got his general contractor’s license and continued to build homes for the next 40 years. He taught in the Vo-Tech Department at College of the Redwoods for three years and later worked in real estate at Coldwell Banker Cutten Realty before retiring in 1994.

Aldo was a charter member and served as president of the Italian Catholic Federation #145. He was active in the Order Sons of Italy #1274 and served as president for 12 years. He was a Humboldt Community Services District board member for 34 years and served as president for 13 years. He was also a member of R.E.D.E.C. and active in Sacred Heart Church and Senior Resource.

Aldo was interested in local and county government and enjoyed dancing, playing the accordion and playing cards. Aldo will be remembered for his passion and practical advice. He was a dedicated husband and father who took great pride in working hard to provide for his family. He will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by the love of his life, Evelyn Bongio; his parents, Vincenzo and Mary Bongio; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Frank and Caterina Pesenti; his brother and sister-in-law, Enrico and Ines Bongio; his brothers-in-law: Aldo Nerelli, Alfred Mainini, William McBurney and Gary Price; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Victor and Linda Pesenti; and his granddaughter, Julie Ann Jamello. He is survived by his children: Cathy Jamello and husband Robert, Denise Bode and husband Cris, and Alan Bongio and wife Mary; his seven grandchildren: Catrina Jamello-Mesa and husband Bernard, Caitlin Clarke and husband Tyson, Kelly Jamello and fiancé Frank Gilfillan, Shalea Zepeda and husband Raul, Jesse Bode, Logan Bongio and Luke Bongio; his three great-grandchildren: Davin and Jaina Clarke and Anisa Zepeda; sisters-in law: Silvia Nerelli, Stella Mainini, Alice McBurney and Frances Price; and many nieces and nephews and their families.

The family would like to thank Aldo’s caregivers: Mitch Fears, Kelly Lund and Susie Miller for their kind, compassionate care.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, Dec. 22, at 2:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Eureka. Aldo will be interred at the Pesenti Family Mausoleum in Paso Robles.

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The obituary above was submitted by Aldo Bongio’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.