At 12:10 P.M. on November 10, 2010, Peter Eugene Pagano died of a massive heart attack that struck him suddenly three days earlier at his home.
He was attended by a caring staff and superb doctors at Good Samaritan Hospital who made his last days peaceful and so comforting for his family.
Peter was the second child born to Pasquale and Santina Pagano who lived at 594 South St. along with his older sister, Mary Ann Orlando. A veteran of the U. S.Navy in the Pacific Theater, he returned to farming on the family apricot orchard on Sunnyslope Rd.
Peter met Marjorie Lange at a Veterans Hall dance in 1948 and they were later married on Christmas day at the Immaculate Conception Church in 1950. Peter built their first home at 739 Powell St. where they raised their daughter and son, Susan and Tom until their purchase of the Mortara apricot and walnut ranch in 1954, across the street from the original Pagano orchard. Here is where Peter Alex, their youngest son was born.
Once again, Peter Eugene proved his gift and skill at carpentry and farm implement fabrication on the new ranch by remodeling the farm house, shop and barns. Here his neighbors and friends would come and watch him work on his latest projects and often ask for a loan of a piece of equipment or help in the repair of one.
He was always happy to help or give advice. Peter was a retired member of the San Benito County Flood Control District Board and an active member of the Elks Lodge and the San Benito Farm Bureau. He and his son Peter Alex loved a good farm equipment auction and could be found most every Sunday morning going to flea markets at the Red Barn.
Peter lived a full and satisfying life with Marjorie, his wife of 61 years, and he will be sorely missed by those he left behind: his wife Marjorie; their three children Peter Alex, Tom and Susan Pagano and her husband Scott; grandchildren Amy and Beth Pagano, Matthew Lavagnino and wife Clarissa, Jack Lavagnino and wife Melissa, and great- grandchildren Megan, Andrew and Jennifer; his sister Mary Ann Orlando and husband Bob, their daughters Becky Orlando, and Bobby Massullo, husband Vincent and their children Gianna and Michael. Also his sister-in-law Geraldine O’Neill and husband Gene; their daughters Ellen O’Neill, Joyce Davidson, husband Claude, and Gwynn Renfrow, husband Tim; great-nieces Ashlee, Shanda; great-nephews Brian and Scott; and great-great-nephews Mason and Shiloh.
Visitation will be Monday, November 15th from 12:00 noon until 7:00 P.M. (No rosary) at the Grunnagle Ament Nelson Funeral Home 870 San Benito St., Hollister. Family and friends will meet at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Tuesday morning Nov. 16th, 2010, at 9:30 A.M. to attend a Mass of The Resurrection beginning at 10:00 A.M.
Contributions are preferred to Sacred Heart School or the St. Francis Retreat Building Fund c/o the mortuary chapel.
Interment with military honors will be held at San Joaquin National Cemetery ,32053 W. McCabe Rd., Santa Nella on Wednesday, Nov. 17th, 2010, at 1:30 P.M. to which friends are invited.
Visit: www.grunnagle.com for condolences.
