Kathleen Montagna

Kathleen Cornelia Bond was born on December 21, 1927, in Stigler,Oklahoma. She passed away peacefully in Fresno on Monday, February 3 with family by her side. She was born to her parents Johnnie Thomas and Jannie Martha McClure Bond. She was welcomed by her brothers, Utah and Verl. She later welcomed her younger siblings Delma Jean, Jennings (Gene aka Pete), J.D., Palastine and Alan to the family. The family left Oklahoma and came by train to California in search of a better life. They were a remarkably close family.
After reaching California, they settled in Madera. Here she attended school, made friends and met the love of her life, Louie Montagna. They married on May 25, 1947. They lived on one of the Montgana family ranches before moving to Fresno. Louie had a truck stop and service station he owned and managed while Kathleen handled the bookkeeping. While in Fresno they welcomed the arrival of their two children Martha and Raymond. After the passing of Louie's father, they returned to Madera to help run the family ranches. Madera was the home again until her passing.
While in Madera, she spent much of her time making a loving home for her husband and children. She worked extremely hard at home and in the fields. She would chop cotton, tie vines, or whatever the season was, only to return home to put a hot meal on the table for her family. She worked for Chiarelli ranches in the fruit shed for years. She made a lot of friends and created wonderful memories. Who can forget her and Nonni Carlotta Chiarelli singing "Que Sera Sera". She also worked for Oberti Olives in the cannery. She worked very hard to get the promotion to floor lady. She made wonderful friends and memories there also. Her last employment was back at the ranch running the office for Louie's farming and labor contracting businesses. Her treasured title was that of wife, mother, and nana. She was so proud of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was known for her talents of crocheting, her chocolate and lemon pies and her remarkable talent as a seamstress. She could just look at any piece of clothing and design her own pattern to make it herself. She enjoyed watching the forty-niners, Tiger Woods, and her soap operas. She enjoyed traveling to Monterey to visit her daughter and family. She also enjoyed spending time at Bass Lake with family.
Kathleen was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings Utah, Verl, Delma Jean, Jennings, J.D. and Alan, her husband Louie, son-in-law Mark Herman, grandson Christopher Herman, sister-in-law Yolanda Taylor and brother-in-law and sister-in-law Mario and Jeanette Montagna.
Kathleen leaves behind her sister Palastine and her husband Tom Leonard of Federal Way Washington, her daughter Martha and husband Dean Rollins of Madera, her son Ray Montagna and his wife Julie of Madera, her beloved grandchildren Jason Herman of Madera, Brittany (Stafford) Bain of Salinas, CA, Samantha Lee of Madera, Kelsee (Christian) Brown Johnson of Madera. Morgan (Hector) Vaca of Madera, and Rylee Montagna of Madera. She also has five great-grandchildren, McKenzie and Abigail Bain, Khloe Leon Vaca, Emilie Herman, and Aiden Vaca. She is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law, and friends who became family, whom she cherished. A special thank you to her caregivers at Madera Rehabilitation and Nursing Center for all the love and care she received. She will be missed but her love and memories shall endure. "Don't cry because it's over." Smile because it happened"-Dr. Seuss