Vella Bisbee Cunningham

Vella Bisbee Cunningham Lafayette Former Resident Born Aug. 24, 1920 in Chicago, Vella died June 11, 2011 in Austin. Lafayette was home from'97 to 2009. Cause of death was a brain hemorrhage, June 10. Vella grew up in Kansas City, Mo., daughter of Vella Handlan and Harry Leon Bisbee. She graduated from St. Mary's College in 1942, across from Notre Dame. She came to California to recuperate from scarlet fever. To aid the war effort, she worked at the War Dept in L.A., in central California harvesting plums and joined the WAVES. Vella married John M. Cunningham in 1946. She was a homemaker Mom and exposed her children to a wider world through travel. She volunteered at several non-profits. She retired from the CA Employment Development Dept. In the mid-80s, in Paradise, she worked at the Gold Nugget Museum, and Paradise Post as proofreader. She was on the St. Thomas More Social Justice Committee. In Lafayette, she worked at the Public Library. She found a spiritual home at St. Perpetua Parish and was active on the Outreach Committee. She is survived by children Richard E. Cunningham , Lafayette and Mary V. Cunningham, Austin; daughters-in-law Kathy Patric and Danina Culver; grandchildren Christopher, Samuel, Erica, Ellen and Allison; greatgrandson Torin, sister-in-law Rocky Bisbee and nieces Tera, Bernadette and Anne; niece Clare Bisbee Frank and husband Bud; nephew Mark, wife Lupita and great-nephew Cairo Bisbee. Crossing-over before her were her son John; grandson Patrick; brothers Harry and Alex, and niece Zoe. Services will be Monday, Aug. 22nd at 8:30 am in the Chapel at St. Perpetua's. Please make any memorial contributions to St. Perpetua's Outreach Committee, St. Perpetua's Church, 3454 Hamlin Rd., Lafayette, 94549.