Margaret Patricia Mahoney Boitano

1928 - 2015

Margaret Patricia Mahoney Boitano

Obituary: Margaret Mahoney
Obituary: Margaret Mahoney Boitano, 1928-2015

Margaret Patricia Mahoney Boitano was born on her Mother's birthday in the Spring of 1928 and passed away peacefully at home on October 9, 2015, surrounded by her family, the people she loved the most. She is finally at peace. After spending the last 55 years of her life in Napa, Margaret will be missed by many, including her family, friends and countless organizations and charities she volunteered with and supported.
Margaret was born and raised in San Francisco by her parents Wensinger and Sarah Mahoney, along with her beloved brother Francis Mahoney and sister Teresa Mahoney McLean. Her adored father, an attorney, passed away when she 12 years old. In 1946, Margaret graduated from St. Brigid High School in San Francisco and went on to get a degree from San Francisco State University and St. Mary's Nursing School, where she began her career as a nurse in San Francisco.
In 1955 Margaret married Napa native and local attorney James D. Boitano and moved to Napa. Margaret continued to work as a nurse in Napa, first with newborns at Parks Victory Memorial Hospital and later at the nursery of Queen of the Valley Hospital. Margaret continued to work as a nurse until the arrival of her daughters Sarah in 1960 and Mary in 1962. Margaret loved working as a nurse and helping others and maintained her nursing license her entire life, and working as a nurse at Shearer School in the 1980s, 4-H camps, and at other events.
Margaret was extremely active in volunteer work and community organizations throughout her entire life. Margaret served as a board member for many years for the Native Daughters of the Golden West Children's Foundation, Young Ladies Institute (YLI), and Napa Valley Support Services. In addition, she held executive positions on both local and statewide Native Daughters of the Golden West boards, as well Los Posadas 4 County 4-H Camp, St. Apollinaris Women's Guild, Napa County Republican Women and Catholic Charities. Margaret also actively supported ParentsCAN and the Queen of the Valley Foundation, as well as the other above mentioned organizations. Margaret stayed active in charitable organizations throughout her life, traveling to San Francisco and other destinations well into her 80s.
Margaret and her husband Jim loved to travel, and they traveled extensively throughout the world and California. Even after Jim's death in 1997, Margaret continued to travel with friends and her sister Teresa, with whom she was very close. Margaret even studied Italian so she could converse with Jim's relatives in Italy on their many visits. Later, Margaret took her grandchildren traveling as well, organizing trips to Washington D.C., Italy and lastly Ireland in 2013. Margaret was honored as ParentsCAN Grandparent of the Year in 2012.
Margaret Boitano loved her family and friends dearly and was a big part of their lives. Her gracious and generous spirit, good humor, intelligence and determination will be dearly missed by all who knew her. She is survived by her daughters Sarah Boitano Carpenter and Mary Boitano Gutierrez, her son-in-law Fred "Scott" Gutierrez and her grandchildren Carley Carpenter, Claudia Gutierrez, Dana Gutierrez and Ryan Gutierrez. Margaret was extremely close with and greatly loved her nieces and nephews Dr. Margaret McLean, Joan McLean, Patricia McLean, Carolyn Mahoney, Janet Mahoney, Joanne Mahoney and Frank Wensinger "Dusty" Mahoney. Margaret will be missed by many good friends, such as Madeline, Eleanor, Greta, Isabel and Jerry, to name a few. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Margaret's memory to Napa Valley Support Services, 1700 Second St, Suite 212, Napa, CA 94559.
The Funeral Mass will be held at St. Apollinaris Catholic Church, 3700 Lassen Street in Napa on Thursday, October 15 at 10:00 AM. The Rosary will be held at the Claffey and Rota Funeral Home, 1975 Main Street in Napa on Wednesday, October 14 at 7:00 PM. Notes of sympathy may be sent to claffeyand rota.com