Melva “Mel” Ferenz

Melva “Mel” Ferenz passed away peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday, June 21, 2017.

She was born in North Beach on January 20, 1925. Shortly after, she moved to the Marina District of San Francisco where she spent the rest of her life. While in North Beach, she attended Garfield and later Winfield Scott Grammar School and graduated from Galileo High School. Melva started working at American Trust in downtown San Francisco and later worked at Bank of America and lastly Wells Fargo Bank on Chestnut Street where she finally retired. She spent the last five years of her life living at The Heritage on the Marina where she made many new friends and was reunited with childhood friends from the “good old days.”

She met her husband Bill, at the Stage Door Canteen. They were married at St. Vincent de Paul Church and raised their family in the Marina. She was a very social lady and happiest when she was spending time with her grandchildren and her many friends. She enjoyed spending many summers with family and friends on the Russian River in Rio Nido, reading the newest novels, chatting on the phone, and loved to watch the Giants and Warriors games. She also enjoyed playing cards and regularly going out to dinner where she was known for ordering an Old Fashioned “with an olive” and “just a smidgen” of dessert. Her husband Bill often said that he married her because she was such an interesting conversationalist. Between the two of them, the dinner table was never dull. Both Bill and Mel will be remembered cruising to various restaurants in the neighborhood in their 1973 Eldorado Convertible. They were a special couple, full of life and always in love.

She was a member of The Olympic Club, De Paul Seniors, Italian Community Services, Italian Catholic Federation Br 50, and Piedmonte Nel Mondo Society.

Melva was preceded in death by her loving husband of 61 years, Bill as well as her cherished grandson, Matthew Rivard. She leaves behind her children, Deborah (Thomas) Rivard, Brian (Carol) Ferenz, grandchildren, Michelle (Carl) Zimmerman, Carolyn Ferenz and great-grandchildren Lily and Isla Zimmerman.

Viewing will be on Wednesday, June 28th at McAvoy O’Hara from 3-6 p.m. and private family internment will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery. A Mass in celebration of her life will be held at a future date. Donations may be made to Hanna Boys Center or your favorite charity.