Louise C. Fontana

1932 - 2022

Louise C. Fontana
November 29, 1932 - July 12, 2022
Louise Chessman Fontana, daughter of Irene and Bill Chessman, passed away peacefully at her home, The Magnolia of Millbrae, on Tuesday, July 12, 2022 with her daughter by her side. She was 89 years young.
She is survived by her three children, Greg Lagomarsino (Marj Pampe), Douglas Lagomarsino and Janis Levesque (Brad), as well as her beloved grandchildren, Tony, Lauren, Kristina and Beau as well as 3 great grandchildren, Aria, Solaris and Ford. She also leaves behind her brother, William Lee Chessman, and many loving nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband Elio A. Fontana (2013), her twin sister Laura Jane (Chessman) Olcese (1989) and her niece Jeanne Louise (Olcese) Monsour (2022).
Born on November 29, 1932, Louise and Laura were identical twins. Growing up, they looked so similar, they were even able to switch places a time or two. When Louise regaled her grandchildren with the story of a time when she took a spelling test posing as Laura, they were enthralled at the idea of their seemingly reserved grandmother doing something so duplicitous. Although looking at the Chessman twins was like seeing double, they were easily distinguished by their personalities – Louise's shy and reserved nature often challenged by her more outgoing twin. Despite these differences, the Chessman twins were the best of friends and each other's constant companion. Together they celebrated life's greatest joys and weathered some of life's cruelest storms, but through it all, they had each other.
When Laura passed unexpectedly in the winter of 1989, Louise's world was shaken and she was forced to face her toughest challenge without her best friend. With time and the unconditional love from family and friends, Louise became the matriarch of her family, becoming like a mother to her niece, Jeanne, and like a grandmother to her children, Collin and Laura.
It is said that people will show you what they love by how they spend their time, and Louise did just that. She spent most of her time with her children and grandchildren – hosting family celebrations, cheering for her grandchildren at their myriad of sporting events, and traveling to their new homes when they grew up. Any time not spent with her favorite people was spent cheering for her Bay Area sports teams, especially the 49ers and the Warriors. The only time her loyalties swayed was when her grandson worked for the Brooklyn Nets or, currently, the Los Angeles Clippers. Family was her priority every time. She watched every game and knew every player. One day she told her grandson that she thought Paul George (a player on the Clippers) was cute and he lovingly referred to PG as her boyfriend from that moment on. She blushed and laughed every time – she loved it!
If her TV wasn't tuned in to a sporting event, it was no doubt on the home shopping channel. Louise was their best customer! Her children and grandchildren always enjoyed unwrapping her gifts on birthdays and holidays – amazed at the gadgets and gizmos she managed to find!
In 2018 Louise sold her home in Millbrae and moved into The Magnolia of Millbrae. Though smaller in size, this new home provided her with a community of wonderful people. She now had friends to eat dinner with every night and play BINGO with each week. She loved playing BINGO!
Louise's children would like to extend a special thank you to all of those at The Magnolia of Millbrae who helped care for her in her final days there.
Although her family misses her everyday, they are comforted knowing she is together with her twin once again. Imagining the excited embrace Laura gave Louise when they reunited in heaven will always bring joy into the hearts of those they left behind.
Family and friends are invited to the memorial mass in honor of Louise on Wednesday, August 17th at 11:30am at St. Dunstan Church in Millbrae.
For others that wish to honor the memory of Louise, please consider making a donation in her name to Family House, San Francisco. We appreciate your generosity. Louise, our mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, and friend lives on in the hearts of all of us.