Erma A. Pivetti

Erma A. Pivetti, a life-long San Benito County resident, died
Monday Oct. 6 at the Mabie Skilled Nursing Facility. She was
96.
Erma A. Pivetti

Erma A. Pivetti, a life-long San Benito County resident, died Monday Oct. 6 at the Mabie Skilled Nursing Facility. She was 96.

Pivetti was a retired school teacher of 47 years and was the first principal of R.O. Hardin Grammar School.

She was born in the Cienega Valley in 1907 and attended a one-room school as a child. Her experiences there enticed her to pursue a career as an educator.

During her career she taught and/or served as principal of Bear Valley, Fremont, Pacheco, Hollister Grammar, R.O. Hardin and Rancho San Justo schools. After retiring, she continued to volunteer her teaching skills at Sacred Heart School.

Not all of her good-hearted endeavors revolved around teaching. During the Great Depression she volunteered at a soup kitchen and donated 10 percent of her salary to help those in need.

She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Native Daughters of the Golden West, Catholic Daughters of America, Delta Kappa Gamma, and the San Benito County Republican Women. She was the past president of San Benito County Teacher’s Association and a member of the California Retired Teacher’s Association.

She was named Citizen of the Year in 1996 by the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce and R.O. Hardin School named their multipurpose room after her.

She is survived by her nephew Charles and his wife Jane of Carmichael; niece Ellen Pingree and her husband Jerry of Hollister; her nephew Robert Pivetti and his wife Rhea of Hollister; her niece Nancy Oliveira and her husband Fernando of Hollister; her niece Joan Randolph and her husband Dick of Hollister; her nephew John Pivetti and his wife Debbie of Hollister; her nephew Tom Pivetti and his wife Michelle of Palm Springs; her niece Mary Ryan and her husband Jim of Carlsbad; her niece Karen Ninomiya and her husband Ron of Los Altos, and her niece Cass Spencer and her husband Robert of Tres Pinos. She is also survived by 28 grand nieces and nephews, two great-grandnieces and one great-grandnephew.

She was preceded in death by her brothers Albert Pivetti, Ed C. Pivetti, Edwin Pivetti, Zene Pivetti and Bob L. Pivetti and sister Matilda Pivetti Cox.

A funeral Mass will be offered Thursday Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, located at Fifth and College streets in Hollister. A vistitation will be held at the Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Funeral Home on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Private burial and graveside services will be Friday, Oct. 10 at Calvary Cemetery.

Donations may be made to Sacred Heart School.