Una Bernadette Essaff
1931 - 2018
On June 11, 2018 the world lost an amazing mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, Auntie, cousin and friend. Una passed away in her sleep at the age of 86. Una was born on Nov 7, 1931 in Westfield, MA to Joseph and Bernadette Daigneault. Being the adventurer and wanting to get away from the Northeastern weather, Una moved to San Francisco after graduating from Westfield High School in 1949. Once in San Francisco, Una worked for a delivery/courier service and lived at the YWCA. One of her duties at the courier service was to call and arrange deliveries with the SF Examiner photo department. Stephen Essaff most often picked up those calls to the photo department. They were married on May 16, 1954, then Honeymooned in Mexico, one of Stephen’s favorite places. Una and Stephen settled into their own home in the Sunset District of San Francisco. Stephen was a SF native and all the Esse/ Essaff clan lived nearby. Una was welcomed into the clan with open arms. Una and Stephen raised four children, Anne, Peter, James and Robert. Though Una claimed to not enjoy cooking, she became skilled at making all of the traditional Lebanese dishes that were made by her mother-in-law Victoria. Living within a few blocks of Golden Gate Park afforded Una with lots of fun activities to do with her children. The Zoo, Hall of Science, Japanese Tea Garden and Playland at the Beach were favorite family spots. Several weeks during the summer were spent with the kids at Marin Town and Country Club. Though only a short distance from SF, Marin had warm, mostly fog-free summer weather. Days in Marin were spent tanning and swimming followed by BBQ dinners. Playing games was the usual evening activity. Stephen would work during the day and drive to Marin evenings and weekends. While Una loved San Francisco, the endless fog wore on her. She finally talked Stephen into moving to Millbrae in 1968.
Besides raising her children, Una was the bookkeeper for Beep’s Burger, which Stephen and his brother George opened on Ocean Ave, San Francisco in 1962. Upon moving to Millbrae, Una joined the Millbrae’s Newcomer Club (later changed to the “40 and over Club”) and held numerous board positions over the next 40 + years. She enjoyed making different types of crafts; Halloween costumes, ceramics, holiday decorations, but her biggest passion was counted cross stitch, for which she received numerous awards from County Fairs. Una’s home ‘gardening’ methods were legendary. While she had many real plants, most of her ‘flowers’ came from Michael’s Craft store rather than a nursery. Neighbors and passersby would ask about her ‘green’ thumb and how she managed to have all of her flowers grow to the same height. During the holidays, Una would turn the family home into a Christmas Wonderland to be enjoyed both inside and out. Una loved playing Mexican Train, Rummikub and a variety of cards games. She was a wonderful hostess, making sure anyone that visited had a drink in hand and something to eat.
Una adored animals. If not for her daughter’s allergies and husband’s aversion to pets, Una would have had many more critters in her life. Many years after Stephen’s passing, she adopted a neighborhood cat, she named Benjii. She also enjoyed the company of her children’s various cats and dogs over the years.
After Stephen passed away in 1995, Una took up traveling. Some of her favorite destinations were house boating on Lake Shasta, trips to Disneyland, Hawaii, both Ocean and River Cruises, New England states, Branson, Sidecar Races, Australia, Canada, Fuji, and New Zealand, among others.
Una lived by the Golden Rule: “do unto others, as you would have done to you”. Her favorite saying was “what goes around, comes around” and she lived those words each day. Una was a creative, gentle, loving soul with a huge heart and a great sense of humor. Una lived life to the fullest and touched everybody’s heart that she came in contact with. If there was one word to describe Una, that word would be “Gracious”. It’s time to begin the next journey and enjoy the afterlife with your husband, parents, sisters (aka. the other dingbats) and other family and friends that passed before you.
Una was preceded in death by her devoted and loving husband, Stephen, and her three sisters Louise, Rita and Evelyn, sister-inlaws, Evelyn and Emily.
Una leaves behind her children and their extended families: Anne (Ed), Peter (fiancé Ann McKinley), James, Robert (Annie). Grandchildren by marriage: Kim (Scott), Jennifer and Kelly (Anne & Ed); Grandchildren: Lindsey and Logan (Peter) - David, Greg (Samantha), Matthew and Richard (Monica) (James); Grandchildren by marriage: Numerous (Robert and Annie); Great Grandchildren: Logan & Layla (Richard & Monica) and Tristian, due in late July (Greg & Samantha); Great Grandchildren by marriage: Sydney, Kailey (Kim & Scott), Marcus, Ben, Hayden (Jennifer) and Tyler, Gabriella (Kelly) - Brother-inLaws; George (Elba) and Joe Farrah. Numerous Cousins, 2nd Cousins, Nieces and Nephews.
A very special Thank You to the friends and staff of Carson Valley Senior Living in Gardnerville, NV. They made life for Una very pleasurable and comfortable.
Family and friends are invited to visit after 5:00 PM, Sunday June 24, 2018 and to attend a Vigil service beginning at 7:30 PM at CHAPEL OF THE HIGHLANDS, 194 Millwood Dr. in Millbrae. The funeral Mass will be celebrated, Monday, June 25, 2018, 11:00 AM at Our Lady of Angels Church, 1721 Hillside Dr. in Burlingame followed by committal services at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation in Una’s name to: Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598 (925256-1273) or St. Anthony Foundation, 150 Golden Gate Avenue, SF 94102 (415-592-2851).