Mary Ellen Serafini

1952 - 2025

A caring, sharing, and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and aunt, Mary Ellen Serafini passed away on Oct. 2, 2025, at the age of 73, after a courageous two-and-a-half-month battle with cancer. Her beloved and dedicated husband of nearly 50 years, David Serafini, was by her side.
Born in Sacramento on July 26, 1952, Mary Ellen attended St. Francis Solano Elementary School and graduated from Sonoma Valley High School in 1970. She earned a bachelor's degree in Geography with honors from UC Davis in 1974.
Upon returning to Sonoma Valley, Mary Ellen took a summer job at the former Gino's Restaurant on the Sonoma Plaza, where she assisted head chef David Serafini in the family-owned restaurant. Their working relationship blossomed into romance, and they married on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, 1976, at St. Francis Solano Church.
Mary Ellen later joined the family-owned Il Desinare Catering, especially enjoying her specialty: baking wedding cakes. After the birth of their two sons, Mary Ellen started with the Sonoma Valley Unified School District and became an active member of the Venture Club.
Mary Ellen and David moved to the Monterey area in 1995 and lived in Hollister, where she worked for Tres Pinos Elementary School. In 2001, they relocated to Ukiah, where she worked for Grace Hudson Language Academy in the Ukiah Unified School District. During their relocations, Mary Ellen and David proudly watched their two sons, David and Mario, graduate from high school and college as engineers.
Mary Ellen and David enjoyed visiting their sons and grandchildren in the Sacramento area, spending time at the family lake house on Clear Lake, taking and participating in Mustang Car Club drives in Mendocino County, making annual trips to Lake Tahoe and Reno, and vacationing abroad in Italy, England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.
Mary Ellen was preceded in death by her parents, Wallace and Mary Margaret Bachelder; her parents-in-law, Aldo and Phyllis Serafini; her brother-in-law, Steve Louie; and her sister-in-law, Irene Bachelder.
She is survived by her husband, David; sons David Serafini (Melissa) and Mario Serafini (Suzanne); granddaughters Allison, Giuliana, and Olivia, and grandson Giuseppe; brothers David Bachelder (Michelle), John Daniel Bachelder (Dyani), Thomas Bachelder, and Raymond Bachelder (Jae); sisters Anita Louie, Angela Lobsinger (Jim), and Monica Gruber (Peter); brothers and sisters-in-law Steven and Margaret Serafini, and Gerard and Mary Serafini; 19 nieces and nephews; and nine great-nieces and nephews.
A private family ceremony will be held at St. Francis of Solano Cemetery in Sonoma, where Mary Ellen will be laid to rest.
Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Adventist Health Hospice/Mendocino County, or a charity of your choice.