Della C. Foppiano – Wine Industry Matriarch

Della C. Foppiano, pioneering Sonoma County icon and matriarch
of one of Sonoma County’s most prominent wine families, died
peacefully at her home in Healdsburg on November 20, 2002 after a
long illness. Della was 84 years old. Her parents, Francesco and
Adele Biagi Bastoni, came from a tiny village in the northern part
of Tuscany near the town of Pontremoli. They immigrated to Santa
Rosa in the early 1900s. Her father, a tanner by trade, came first
to the United States by steamer, and was later followed by his wife
Adele, who alone brought the first two of their young children to a
new land. On April 6, 1918, Della was born in Santa Rosa,
California. Francesco and Adele raised their family on West 6th
Street, known as “Santa Rosa’s Little Italy. In birth, Della was
preceded by her siblings Mary Simmi, Mario Bastoni, Lena Olmus,
Emma Piccollo and Frank Bastoni. Her brothers Frank and Mario
founded the Franco American French Bakery in 1938, which is still
owned and operated by the Bastoni family. Della attended Lincoln
Grammar School and graduated from Santa Rosa High School in 1936.
Following graduation, Della worked for the W.P.A. and then
Trombetta Distributors of Santa Rosa. Just before World War II, she
met the love of her life, Louis J. Foppiano, and on January 17,
1946 Della and Louis were married in St. Rose Church. As well as
being the wife of a busy vintner, and raising her young family
(Louis M., Rod, who passed away in 1984, and Susan), Della
dedicated herself to philanthropic projects throughout her life by
assisting those in need, mainly through the Assistance League of
Sonoma County and various other programs. Della was an untiring
volunteer. Her passionate nature was evidenced by the program she
supported, namely scholarships, hearing tests and clothing children
in need, just to name a few. Della is survived by her husband Louis
J. Foppiano, children Louis M. Foppiano and Susan Foppiano Valera,
daughter-in-law Helaine Foppiano, son-in-law Anthony Valera;
grandchildren Paul and Gina Foppiano (children of Rod and Carol),
James and Joseph Valera, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Friends are invited to attend a Funeral Mass on Saturday, November
23, 2002 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 8400
Old Redwood Highway, Windsor. Private Entombment, Oak Mound
Cemetery in Healdsburg. Memorial contributions in her memory may be
made to the Assistance League of Sonoma County, 5 West 6th Street,
Santa Rosa, California 95401; St. John’s Catholic School, 217 Fitch
Street, Healdsburg, California 95448 or your local Hospice.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 21, 2002 and Friday,
November 22, 2002 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Daniels Chapel of the
Roses Funeral Home, 1225 Sonoma Avenue, Santa Rosa.