Ismael “Rocky” Castellano and Lorenza “Lorraine” Pedregon Castellano, his wife, both died on August 29, 2004 in a car accident in Calaveras County. They were both 68 years old.
Raised as migrant farm workers, Ismael and Lorraine met and fell in love in San Juan Bautista where she worked as a clerk and he was the town’s only constable. After marriage, they started a family in San Juan Bautista and eventually moved to Milpitas where Ismael worked with the Mountain View Police Department. They were married for 47 years.
Ismael graduated from San Benito High School in 1954. He played football for Stockton Junior College and San Jose State. After graduating from San Jose State he entered the U.S. Army. After discharge, he became a police officer working in Hollister, San Juan Bautista and Mountain View during a career that spanned 17 years. He work for HUD, before ultimately working for the state of California as a case worker for disadvantaged adults. While working for the state, he earned his Masters of Psychology from the University of San Francisco. He retired in 1997.
Ismael enjoyed all sports as well as going to the gym to stay in shape.
Lorraine was born in San Jose, Ariz. and after marrying Ismael became a homemaker who acted as second mother to numerous neighborhood children. She enjoyed tending to her garden and recording children shows for her grandchildren.
They both were devoted parents and grandparent who would do anything for their children and grandchildren. During retirement, they enjoyed vacationing before settling into a routine where they spent the majority of their time at home.
They are survived by their children Lauralee Castellano of Milpitas, Leonard Castellano of Milpitas, Ismael Castellano Jr of Milpitas, and Michael Castellano and his wife, Lydia, of Modesto; grandchildren Jarrod and Corrine Castellano; Ismael’s mother Trinidad Castellano of Santa Clara; Ismael’s brothers David “Bob” Castellano and wife, Mary, of Hollister, and Al Castellano and wife, Carmen, of Saratoga; Ismael’s sisters Dominga Valdez and husband, Robert, of Hollister and Mary Castellano of Santa Clara; Lorenza’s sisters Lupe Leon of Hollister, Eulalia Morillo and husband, Henry, of Los Banos, Elisa Martinez and husband, Gonzalo, of Los Banos; Lorenza’s brother Ray Pedregon and wife, Mary, of San Diego; and many nieces and nephews. They were preceded in death by Ismael’s father Cirilo Castellano.
Friends are invited to attend the funeral services at 11am on Saturday, Sept. 4 at the chapel of Grunnagle Ament Nelson Funeral Home, 870 San Benito Street. Interment will follow at the San Juan District Cemetery.
