Claudia N. Baraldi

Claudia was born in Rottenburg am Neckar in the final weeks of WW2, to Antonio Bonino of Carignano, Italy and Annalise Müller of Rottenburg. At war's end, her family moved to her father's family's farm in Carignano where they could have enough to eat. When Antonio found work they moved to Torino, Italy and she grew up there spending her summers on the beautiful Italian Riviera. She met her future husband and best friend of 61 years, Silvio Baraldi, in Torino.

Their first date was a skiing trip in the Italian Alps. One month later they were married, and so started her life of living and traveling in many places around the world, including North Africa, England, Canada, and Indonesia. She and Silvio came to the US in 1976, building their home in Parker, Colorado. She loved to travel and was always curious about different places and cultures. She became fluent in French and English in addition to her native Italian and German languages. She loved fashion, interior design and art, and was always elegantly dressed, even on trips to the grocery store. She loved being a mom and grand-mom, especially family trips and being home together for delicious meals. She became a gourmet cook and she and Silvio loved hosting incredible dinners with their many friends collected all over the world. She had many well-loved cookbooks and loved watching cooking shows. She also loved gardening and planting herbs and culinary trees. She made a top-notch limoncello from a lemon tree she planted. She had a sharp sense of humor, and often offered some hilarious phrase at unexpected times. She was very creative and over the years painted, knitted and embroidered beautiful items. Between periods of living overseas, she and Silvio lived for the past 30 years in Houston, Texas.

Claudia will be remembered for her sense of adventure, cooking skills (a mean focaccia), love of all things art and impeccable dress. Last but certainly not least, we will remember Claudia for her deep strength, resilience and courage through the years of battling cancer. Until the very end she was willing to endure anything to be able to be in her beloved Houston home with Silvio, kitty Candy and treasured pooch Dana.

She is survived by husband Silvio; sister Sandra Bonino; children Carole (George Triantafillou), and Sebastian (Hollie); grand-children Michael (Grace), Charles, Alex, Aiden and Amity; nieces Chiara Salino and Julia DeBarros; great-grandchild Olive.

Preceded in death by her parents and sister Silvia Bonino.

We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to her close friend Carol McComas, who for so many years has not only been a source of love and (many, many) laughs together, but also an incredible provider of support and help. Carol, because of you, Claudia and Silvio have been able to live together in the home they love so much.

We love you Claudia, and now you are finally free of suffering.