Loretta May Calabrese

Loretta Calabrese March 29, 1948 - September 19, 2020

Loretta Calabrese affectionately known as "Nonie" by her family was born in Madera, CA on March 29,

1948. She was the seventh of eight siblings and is survived by her twin sister Lorraine Bukilica, and her

big sister, Dorothy Mayfield.

Loretta was a graduate of Kerman High School class of 1966. She furthered her education at Fresno City

College where she received her Associate Art Degree.

She enjoyed a career that spanned 40 years as a healer in the field of Physical Therapy. She was highly

regarded and praised for her outstanding care and work ethic. She felt blessed to maintain an extremely

close and professional relationship with her many patients' lives that she touched. Her patients often

told her how greatly they appreciated her warm touch and gentle essence as a healer and caregiver.

Loretta married her soul mate, and love of her life, Larry Calabrese in 1969 and recently celebrated their

51st Wedding Anniversary. One of the most special things after 50 years together was to see them hand-

in-hand on their daily walks around their neighborhood or Woodward Park. Nonie was mother to a

daughter and son, Karen and Bryan, and Mother-in-Law to Ana Maria and Mike. She was a fantastic

cook who knew that the best conversations often happened over food, and penned by hand, a

Cook book of her favorite recipes to pass down to her children and grandchildren. Some of her best

memories were from her frequent travels with her husband, her brother-in-law Dan, and her sister-law

Patty, who often joined them on many adventures to beautiful cities and sites across the U.S and

abroad. Nonie was happiest though, sharing time together with her husband, children, and three

grandchildren. Samuel (9), Sarah (6), and Kaliya (6). In addition to being celebrated as an amazing wife,

friend, mother, aunt, and grandmother, she was known by her many friends and family for her

infectious smile and laughter, her compassion, possessing a terrific spirit, as well as being a ferocious

fighter and force of nature. Loretta bravely battled neuroendocrine cancer for more than 10 years

before finally succumbing to the disease on September 19, 2020, peacefully and surrounded by family.

Due to the current COVID pandemic, a Celebration of Life for Loretta is being planned and will be

announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers to the family, please make donations in memory of Loretta Calabrese to the Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation (NETRF) https://netrf.org/get-invoIved/give-now/