LaVerne Robasciotti

LaVerne Virginia (Guidetti) Robasciotti Jan. 1924 - May 25, 2016 LaVerne Virginia (Guidetti) Robasciotti passed into eternal peace on May 25, 2016, in San Luis Obispo. Born in Los Osos in January 1924 to Lawrence and Rose (Machado) Guidetti, she lived a full and joyous 92 years. Her parents shared with her the rich culture of her Swiss-Italian and Portuguese (Azorean) ancestry. As a child, she spent a great deal of time at her Machado grandparent's ranch in Los Osos, where she loved riding her pony bareback. LaVerne had an enormous heart and always cherished time spent with family, often visiting her Aunts, Uncles, and cousins in the early years and later her own siblings, nieces, nephews, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She began school in the historic Los Osos one-room schoolhouse. During her elementary school years, her family moved to Edna Valley and so she and her siblings began attending the East Santa Fe two-room schoolhouse across from the San Luis Obispo airport. LaVerne went to San Luis Obispo High School and took some Junior College classes during her senior year. She graduated in 1942 and went right to work for the draft board, where she saw many of her classmates off to World War II. She always felt a deep sadness for the many she sent off at the train depot who never did return. While still in high school, LaVerne met Ulysses "Scotty" Robasciotti, a dairyman from another Swiss-Italian family with a ranch near the airport. They fell in love and married Oct. 15, 1944, making their home at the Polin ranch on Vachell Lane, where they continued the dairy operation and raised their three children. They purchased Dad Pettenger's hamburger eatery on Monterey Street in 1956 and renamed it Scotty's Caf‚. They ran the caf‚ until 1969, serving all of the original Pettinger recipes from Dad that so many locals loved. After they sold the caf‚, LaVerne went to work for the UC Farm Extension Service and helped Scotty test dairy cows for the Dairy Herd Improvement Association. In 1984 LaVerne and Scotty retired from this work and she started yet another career for which she had great passion. LaVerne became a designer at Law's Hobby Center, where she put her great artistic and creative crafting talents to work. While there she did everything from teach classes to arrange silk flowers for wedding ceremonies. LaVerne had a radiant smile and personality, bringing joy to all she encountered. In 1996 she made friends across Europe as she traveled with her daughter and granddaughter to beautiful places she always wanted to see, including her ancestral homeland in Switzerland. She often brought not just smiles, but music to others. She made great memories in the earlier years going with Scotty to the Spyglass Inn and singing at the piano bar. Her beloved dog, Sheba, also enjoyed her singing as she often went there with them. LaVerne learned at an early age to play accordion and piano by ear and loved sharing that music with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was the cherished mother of Annette (George) Grossi of Novato, Rick Robasciotti (Barb Ehrbar) of Arroyo Grande, Debi Foster (Herb Jones) of San Luis Obispo; adored grandmother or "Nonnie" of Lesha (Jim) Harding, Dominic (Nancy) Grossi, Rachella (Fady) Zawde-Grossi, Nicole Foster (Tino), Brandon Foster, and Justin Foster; and treasured great-grandmother or "Great-Nonnie" of Gavin, Cameron and Leila Harding, Bryce and Paige Grossi, and Raja and Yasmeena Zawde-Grossi. She is also survived by her brothers, Lou Guidetti and Don Yoder; sister, Donna Phelan, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. LaVerne was preceded in death by her loving husband of 54 years, Ulysses "Scotty" Robasciotti in 1998, as well as her parents, sister Elaine Vaca, and brother Albert Guidetti. Donations can be made to Woods Humane Society or a charity of your choice. Friends and family are invited to join us for a vigil at the Reis Mortuary on Sunday, June 5 at 6:00pm, as well as a mass celebrating her life on Monday, June 6 at 10:00am at the Mission San Luis de Tolosa. Sign her guestbook at sanluisobispo.com/obituaries