Mara Sarti

Mara was born is Stiava, Italy (Province of Lucca) on April 7, 1938. She came to the United States at the age of 11 with her parents, Vincenzo and Fanny, and her younger brother, Joe. They settled in the North Beach area of San Francisco. Mara attended Sts. Peter and Paul's Grammar School, under the leadership of the Salesian Order. Mara went to St. Vincent's High School (Sacred Heart Cathedral) and later worked at the Bank of America (North Beach Branch) as a platform secretary. It was fate when she was asked by the Salesian Sisters to represent them in Turin, Italy. During this visit back to Italy in her hometown of Stiava, she reconnected with her childhood sweetheart, Joe Sarti. It was during this trip that he "swept her away" on his Vespa with a love that lasted forever.
Mara and Joe were married at Sts. Peter and Paul's in 1959. They lived in North Beach and started their family there with their two sons, Rob and John. They eventually moved to San Mateo Park in 1974 and settled on West Poplar Avenue. She again worked at Bank of America (Burlingame Branch on El Camino) and volunteered at St. Vincent de Paul Society in San Mateo. Despite her busy work schedule, she would always say, "my day begins when I get home from work for my family," because she put family before herself.
Mara was exceptionally patriotic, a sentiment that began when an American solider picked her up as a little girl to ride on top of his U.S. military tank in Stiava at the end of World War II. She lobbied at a Burlingame City Council meeting to have yellow ribbons displayed in Burlingame as a sign of support for the soldiers fighting in Kuwait. She was a woman with a strong moral and ethical compass and Mara was not afraid to speak her mind to educate others. She led her life according to her faith, trusting that "the MAN upstairs" would always take care of her and her loved ones. Most of all, she cherished being "Nonna" to JR, often sneaking him to Toys R' Us to stock up on his favorite things. Mara's greatest gift was having her family around the kitchen table together, laughing, drinking homemade wine, and enjoying her home-cooked meals made with "cups of love." She was in her element her last week of life as her home was filled with every, close family member, eating and reminiscing together, as the kids ran around the yard.
Mara is survived by her sons Rob Sarti (wife, Catherine Sarti) and John Sarti (wife, Cathy Sarti, grandson JR), sister-in-law Franca Marchetti, and nieces Bridget Marchetti Philip (husband, Brian, daughters Sabrina and Olivia) and Diana Marchetti Barrett (husband, John, daughters Samantha and Margaret), along with numerous other relatives and friends here and in Italy. Mara passed peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones on May 6, 2022. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Sarti, and her brother, Joe Marchetti.
All services will take place at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Burlingame on May 17th at 10:00 am and the Rosary will be recited immediately preceding the Mass at 9:45 am. The interment will follow at the Italian Cemetery in Colma.
The family invites you to attend a reception at Divino Ristorante at 968 Ralston Avenue in Belmont.
In lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to make donations should direct them to:
Alzheimer Research on-line (https://www.alz.org/get-involved-now/donate) or by mail at Alzheimer's Association Home Office,
225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601, or St. Jude's on-line (https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html) or by mail at St. Jude's, 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105
A special thank you goes to all the doctors and nurses who have cared for Mara, especially Dr. Sujansky, and the team at Mission Hospice.