Mary Ellen Laffranchi
March 6, 1925 – September 24, 2025

Mary Ellen Laffranchi passed away peacefully on September 24, 2025, at the remarkable age of 100. She was born in Alton to Henry and Rose Giacomini, the fifth of eleven children as the eldest daughter.

Mary spent her early years helping on the family dairy and assisting her mother in caring for her many siblings. She often said she never had a bed to herself. She attended grammar school in Alton and later Fortuna High School.

After the family moved to Waddington Lane in Ferndale, Mary continued her education, commuting daily to Fortuna High. She would walk across Fernbridge and ride the bus to school before eventually transferring to Ferndale High School.

Following graduation, Mary worked at the Loleta Creamery during World War II, earning 50 cents an hour for nine-hour shifts, seven days a week.

During that time, she began corresponding with a young man from her neighborhood — Severino Laffranchi — who was serving in the Army Air Corps in England. When Sev returned in February 1946, they married. Although he was offered a job with United Airlines in Hawaii, they chose to settle on his family’s dairy ranch at Guthrie Creek, west of Ferndale.

Together, Mary and Sev raised three children — Robert, Donald, and Annette. The family later moved to Coffee Creek near Ferndale, where they continued dairy operations. They also continued to operate the Guthrie Creek ranch, raising beef cattle, with Mary taking charge of the roundups, chute, and branding.

As her children grew, Mary became actively involved in their activities, particularly 4-H and FFA. She was a constant presence at county fairs and events — keeping records, providing transportation, and supporting the success of all involved.

Around the time her children graduated from high school, Mary began a career with the U.S. Postal Service as a rural mail carrier. Starting as a substitute driver, she eventually became full-time and retired after more than 18 years of service. Eventually, she and Sev retired from dairying and shifted their focus to beef cattle.

A devoted member of Assumption Catholic Church in Ferndale, Mary served on the church council and was active in the Ladies Guild. She contributed to the annual church bazaar for decades, creating handmade items and running the beloved Nickel Booth — an event she continued to attend even at 100 years old.

Mary was also a dedicated member of the American Legion Auxiliary, holding various positions until the Ferndale chapter merged with the Fortuna branch.

Every September, Mary and her family made the trip to Reno for the National Championship Air Races. She was one of the original members of the Checkered Flag Club and had attended the event annually since 1974.

Mary had a deep love for travel and visited many places, including Washington, Oregon, Alabama, and Georgia. She also traveled to Germany to be with her daughter for the birth of her first granddaughter and later took a memorable trip to Italy with her son Robert and his family to visit relatives in the “old country”.

She remained active in her community and her faith, regularly bringing Communion to those who couldn’t attend Mass. She especially cherished family meals—whether pizza with her grandkids or dinner at the casino, she was happiest surrounded by loved ones.

Mary and family lived in their Belloni Lane home — famously weathering the 1964 flood, with Christmas presents stacked up the stairs as the water rose. After Sev passed Mary lived there independently until just last year, when she moved to Fortuna and into the loving care of the staff at Sequoia Springs.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Rose Giacomini; her beloved husband of 53 years, Severino Laffranchi; her children Robert and Annette; her son-in-law Samuel Adams; her seven Giacomini brothers and their wives; and her sister Lucille.

Mary is survived by her son Donald and his wife Cheryl, and daughter-in-law Carol Laffranchi. She leaves behind 8 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and 8 great-great-grandchildren.

She is also lovingly remembered by her sisters Leona and Rose and their families, along with many nieces and nephews.

Services

A rosary will be held at Assumption Catholic Church in Ferndale on Friday, October 3, at 7:30 p.m.

A funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, October 4, at 10:30 a.m., followed by a reception.

Burial will take place at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery.