Victor Prosperi

Victor Prosperi was born in Madera, on August 7, 1925, to Cesare and Ada Prosperi, immigrants from Italy. He passed away on Thursday, May 28, 2009. He was a freshman in high school and was working on his family's farm when Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941. Victor felt that the Pearl Harbor attacks were extremely cowardly and didn't like it. At the age of 18 Victor enlisted, and was inducted into the United States Navy on March 31, 1944. He left Madera and went to boot camp for six weeks at Camp Bennion at Farragut, Idaho. After boot camp he was sent to San Francisco for gunnery school. He served on the merchant ship U.S.S. Benjamin Warner carrying supplies to the Philippines and Australia until his was discharged, on May 18, 1946. Victor came back to Madera and resumed farming. In 1950 he married Dorothy DelBono and they had three children, Diane, Nancy and Denis. He farmed in the Alpha and LaVina district for over 55 years. He appreciated the love of his family and the friendship of his many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Cesare and Ada Prosperi; and his sister, Evelina Prosperi. He is survived by Dorothy Prosperi, his wife of 59 years; children, Diane Massetti and her husband Fred, Nancy Rigby and her husband Mitchell, Denis Prosperi and his wife Terri; grandchildren, Stephanie Graham and her husband Jason, Patrick Massetti and his wife Lisa, Andrew Rigby and his wife Mary Elizabeth Rigby; Katie Rigby, Kyle Prosperi and Victoria Prosperi; and his great-grandchildren, Ashley and Allyson Graham. Visitation will be held at Jay Chapel, Madera Ca., on Tuesday, June 2, 2009, from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Joachim Catholic Church in Madera, Ca., on Wednesday, June 3, 2009, at 9:00 a.m. Interment to follow at Calvary Cemetery, Madera, Ca. Remembrances may be made to St. Joachim Catholic Church, 401 W 5th Street, Madera, Ca., 93637; or Madera Historical Society P.O. Box 150, Madera, Ca., 93639 JAY CHAPEL 1121 Roberts Avenue Madera, Ca (559) 674-8814 www.jaychapel.com