ANDONIETTA ANNA ANGONE BRANCATO
October 30, 1936 - April 10, 2023
Anna was born in Bakersfield, California to Italian emigrants, Nicola and Mary (Galatro) Angone, from Buonabitacolo, Italy. She attended General Shafter School and Bakersfield High School, graduating class of 1955.
Mom met Dad in 1956 at Michener's Drive Inn with her girlfriend Yvonne Zunnio Atwood. They married on June 14, 1958 with a honeymoon in San Francisco, then moving to Los Angeles. Mom's heart was always in her hometown.
While working full time as a bookkeeper keeping books for the family farming operation for her parents, she passed on her bookkeeping knowledge to her sister-in-law Alberta when Aldo started farming.
Always the cheerleader for her children, she would help in all activities from den mother, girl scout leader, and band mother making all the flags for the Arroyo High Jr. band.
Upon moving back to Bakersfield in 1976, Mom went to work at Elk Hills as a payroll supervisor for W.B.E.C., completing her career with Bethel Petroleum 29 years.
Mom became active in 4-H and FFA clubs helping with all activities. Mom and Dad always included us in everything they did from buying a concession stand/trailer making mini donuts, camping in a tent when they were younger, graduating to an RV motor home, which there were 3. She also helped with cooking at the Italian Heritage Dante Association. We are eternally grateful.
They went on many adventures together, going to Oregon, Arizona, and Las Vegas, Nevada. She loved playing the penny slots, California beach towns, Washington D.C., New York and New Jersey, traveled all over the west coast, and trips to Europe.
In 1987 Mom traveled to Italy with her mom Mary, son Michael, daughter Barbara Ann and cousin Antonietta, meeting her Italian family for the first time, then on to Germany, meeting our German family the Cobbs and Schulers. She made many trips back to Italy and Germany visiting family and friends. Her last trip was in 2021 after the loss of her husband in June of 2020.
Mom loved her hobbies of sewing with the model A ladies. She made special lifelong friends there.
Mom is survived by her 3 children Michael Brancato, Joseph and {Jenny} Brancato and family Daniel, Joseph and Ashton Brancato, Todd Morris, Aidan and Tristin Steinke. Great-grandchildren Gabby, Austin and Catlin McCain and one great-great-granddaughter Emma; and Barbara and {John} Tokash and family, Sydney and Sean Tokash.
Mom is also survived by Aldo and Alberta Angone, Barbara Angone and Carol Brancato.
She was preceded in death by husband Andy and brother-in-law Larry Brancato, brothers Mario and Rudy Angone and niece Tina Angone, parents Nicola and Mary Angone, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and relatives. Special thanks to her angel caregivers Ariana Robles and Sandy Parker.
The family would like to thank the following for visiting mom on a regular basis, Aldo, Alberta, Barbara and Nicole Angone, Yvonne Atwood, Model A members from the sewing group, Maria Steele and Christina Fanucchi Joughin.
Pallbearers: Joseph Brancato Jr. Sean Tokash, Aidan Steinke, Tristin Steinke, John Summers and Zachary Bruce.
Honorary Pallbearers: Aldo Angone, Alberta Angone and Barbara Angone, Yvonne Atwood and Jesse Cobb.
Rosary at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26th at Doughty-Calhoun-O'Meara, 1100 Truxtun, with visitation from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Funeral at 10:00 a.m, Thursday, April 27th at Sacred Heart Church, 9915 Ramos Ave. Reception will be at Woolgrowers, 620 E 19th St.
DOUGHTY-CALHOUN-O'MEARA FUNERAL DIRECTORS www.bakersfield.com/obits