Shirley Ann (Foley) Ribera
Shirley Ann (Foley) Ribera, 90, of Vallejo passed Thursday at her home. Daughter of Ruth and Jervis Foley, sister of Virginia Daly and Thomas Foley. Shirley was raised in the quaint town of Santa Rosa, CA and lived just three houses away from St. Rose Catholic Church where she attended grammar school. The Foleys loved the beauty of the North Bay area and enjoyed the surrounding towns of Sebastopol and Healdsburg. After residing in Santa Rosa many years the Foley family moved to 25th Ave. in San Francisco where Shirley attended Star of the Sea Catholic High School on Geary Street.
After working as a dental nurse in San Francisco, Shirley worked at Standard Oil Company on Bush Street. She enjoyed socializing with her friends after work on Maiden Lane, her favorite street just off of Union Square in San Francisco.
Following mass at St. Monica’s Church on Geary Street one Sunday, she received a phone call from a young man whose family lived just a block away on 26th Ave. That young man, Ernest “Ernie” Ribera, noticed Shirley’s beauty at mass that day. They met, dated, and were married in 1952 at the very same church where Ernie first saw her.
Shirley and Ernie had eight loving children, four sons and four daughters. During their wonderful 55 years of marriage they resided in San Francisco, Daly City, San Bruno, Pacifica, Belmont, Benicia and Vallejo. Shirley’s favorite home was the “Big Yellow House” on the hill in Pacifica with a gorgeous view that allowed her to see the ocean, the new Oceana High School her husband Ernie opened, her parents’ home, the park where her children played, the beautiful rolling hills and was nearby her best friend’s home, Claire Morganti.
Shirley was a person of great faith, kindness and patience. Her love and support for her family was truly remarkable. Shirley and Ernie were St Dominic’s parishioners since 1990 and several of her grandchildren were graduates of St Dominic’s School in Benicia. She and her husband Ernie were members of many clubs and associations over the years, including Marines’ Memorial Club, Benicia Yacht Club, Mizpah, Rotary, Knights of Columbus, European Chaperons for Students, Church and School Committees and Festivals.
Shirley and Ernie enjoyed traveling to South Bend, Indiana to watch Notre Dame football games, as well as Annapolis, Maryland to visit the Naval Academy. They found great joy in visiting the universities where their children attended school. They also loved Europe, Costa Rica, Hawaii and spent many summers in Truckee, CA, where they were drawn to the beauty of the area and enjoyed well deserved relaxation.
Shirley was an outstanding mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. Her unconditional love and contagious laugh will be missed by many. Shirley is survived by her brother Thomas (Gillian) Foley of Fountain Hills, AZ, her eight children, 22 grandchildren, and ten great grandchildren: Son Ernest (Maria), children Anthony (Christine), Melissa (Bobby), Ernest, Cristina; Daughter Theresa Belliardo, children Michael; Son James, children Nicole (Anthony), Teresa (Daniel); Daughter Carol Ann Nordine (Gary), children Alexis (Pierce), Jennifer, Kelly; Daughter Marilyn Cacho (Patrick), children James, Daniel; Son William (Sherri), children Jamie (Brian), Danielle, Nicholas, Grace; Daughter Nancy Saraiva (James), children Sonny (Corinne), and Son John (Bobbie), children Olivia, Joseph, Trishana, Tamar, Connor and by her great grandchildren Dominic, Maya, Jacob, Audrey, Adeline, Sonny Jr., Isabella, Ella, Dylan, Huntley. Great grandchild number 11 is due in May.
Visitation will be 3-6 p.m. Monday at Passalacqua Funeral Chapel, 901 West Second Street, Benicia. Vigil services will be held 7:00 p.m. Monday, and a Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday both at St. Dominic’s Church, 475 East I Street, Benicia. Burial will be private. Please visit the online tribute at www. passalacquafuneralchapel. com
Passalacqua Funeral Chapel, 707-745-3130
www.passalacquafuneralchapel.com