Thelma Bartoli

On September 25, 2021 our dear mother Thelma Bartoli (Garcia) passed away at home in San Francisco at the age of 99 years after a short illness. She was born in Hawaii to Guillermo and Carmen Garcia, (both deceased), but the family soon moved to San Francisco. She, the eldest child, had four sisters: Margaret Baioni, Helen Botai, Claire Hansen (all deceased), and Dolores Miller the youngest who survives; and three brothers: Manuel, Frank and Ishmael (all deceased), the latter having died in infancy. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Oreste Frank Bartoli. They enjoyed 61 years of married life together. They were loving parents to Darla, Russell and Barry. Thelma’s grandson, Matthew Touchstone, and granddaughter, Michelle Olivencia (Touchstone), make up the next generation; followed by Matthew’s son, Ashton, Thelma’s greatgrandson.

Thelma had 28 nieces and nephews, to whom she was known affectionately as “Auntie Tillie”.

She was a devoted homemaker, wife and mother, a woman of strong Christian faith and was active for decades at Bethel Christian Church in San Francisco. Members came to her to be prayed over either in-person or by phone. After Bethel Church closed several years ago, I would take her to Epiphany Church for mass. She had a warm, maternal heart and a direct almost child-like innocence. But she also had a strong will and was down-to-earth. We, her sons, were fortunate to live with her and to provide support especially in her final years when she needed more assistance. It will be difficult to fill the void she leaves behind but we are glad the suffering of her final 2-3 days has ceased. How we will miss her!

Family and Friends are invited to attend a Funeral Mass on Thursday, October 7 at 11 A.M. at Church of the Epiphany, 827 Vienna St., San Francisco. Burial immediately following at Italian Cemetery, Colma.