Veronica "Ronnie" Harriott

1929 - 2025

Veronica "Ronnie" Harriott
June 28, 1929 - March 16, 2025
As life changes, we must all adjust, so it is that our family must now adjust as our mom, Veronica Harriott, has peacefully passed on.
Mom, who everyone knew as "Ronnie", lived most of her adult life in Petaluma, California, where she was surrounded by a large extended family and too many friends to count. She was kind, caring and accepting of whoever came her way. She was tough, but always very loving and giving.
Our mom never met a stranger. Many of our family holidays were shared with complete strangers to us, but not to our mom! As children we weren't really sure how to handle that: there may have been some "elderly guys" we didn't know; a "Two Rock Soldier" or two we had never met; or some motorcycle dude "who looked scary", but they all shared a meal, enjoyed a gift and engaged in some laughter with us. As children we didn't understand this invasion of "our family time" but as adults we know that our mom was just doing what was right because she knew that everyone needs a home and love, and she gave it to them!! The Lord will bless her for that.
Our mom was a hard worker, and she worked well into her 80s. She worked at Gilardi's and the Spa as a bar manager/card dealer (where she basically got to know everybody in town) and then managed the Tivoli Restaurant & Bar for over 20 years, the great irony being that she never drank or smoked!! After that, she worked for Petaluma City Schools, first at Casa Grande High on the kitchen staff and then as an aide/campus supervisor at Petaluma Junior High. She adored all of the 7-8th grade kids there - especially the rambunctious ones! They called her "Aunt Ronnie", "Abuela" and "Mom"- she was very proud of that.
When she wasn't working, our mom loved spending time laughing and sharing stories with her family and friends, bowling, playing cards, and road trip traveling (she actually visited every state in the Union).
Our mom was preceded in death by our wonderful dad, Bob Harriott, and her son Bobby. She leaves behind her daughters, Linda Shoemaker-Christensen (Steve) and Tracey Harriott (Kim), and her son, Steven Shelton (Katie); her grandchildren Jon, Trevor, Zack, Stephanie, Anthony, Angelica, Laura and Matt; 7 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren; and her nephews and nieces Michael, Donald, Patricia, Thomas and Denise Baddeley, all of whom she embraced and loved like her own kids.
A Celebration of Life will be held for Ronnie in the late Spring.