Sandra Marie Pistacchio

Sister St. Cecilia csn

Sister Cecilia passed away peacefully at Nazareth House, Fresno on Christmas Day, December 25th, 2024, as the Christmas Carol states, “when half spent was the night!” She joined her sister, Sister Mary Genevieve, who was also a Sister of Nazareth.

Sandra Marie Pistacchio was born in Fresno, California on a warm August 8th day in 1941. Sandra was the youngest of three children born to Alex and Lena Pistacchio. She and her two siblings, Ron and Betty, spent all their young lives in Fresno. Sister often spoke of summers in Fresno, working in fruit packing houses. It was arduous work for these youngsters, but it gave her a lifelong work ethic that she carried to her grave. The best part of the day she would say was that on the way home her Dad would stop at the local Foster Freeze for cold cones. It was a fond memory of hers.

The Pistacchio Family were lifelong members of St. John’s Cathedral and attended St John’s elementary school. Sandra attended San Joaquin Memorial High School, graduating in 1958.

While attending San Joaquin Memorial, she and her sister began working at Nazareth House on the weekends. They loved working with the Sisters and residents at Nazareth House, after graduation her sister (Betty) began her vocational journey and joined the Sisters of Nazareth. Two years later Sandra decided to follow her sister and applied for admission to the Congregation of the Sisters of Nazareth. Training in London, England at our Motherhouse. After her postulancy was completed, Sandra received the name Sister St. Cecilia. Sister Cecilia was a professed member of the Sisters of Nazareth for 63 years.

Sister was a trained Licensed Vocational Nurse (Fresno City College) and through the years ministered in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Rafael, and Stoughton. She was also trained in podiatry and foot massages, a ministry which she especially enjoyed this ministry, she once told me, ‘It gives me time to listen to the residents and enjoy their life stories”

Sister was highly organized and if she saw something to be done, she would want it done yesterday!!! She was a naturally anxious person and wanted a place for everything and everything in its place! While undergoing treatment for Cancer, her theme song was ‘One day at a time, sweet Jesus” A concept that she really never quite caught on to!

Sister was a woman of prayer. Loved attending Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration and praying the ‘Chaplet of Divine Mercy’! She had an app on her phone and would pray along with it many times a day.

Sister Cecilia grew up in a loving family. Her brother Ron and his wife Patricia were special to her. Pat, her sister-in-law, loved both of the sisters and made a place for them in their home when their parents passed away. Sister always spoke fondly of Rhonda, Marissa, Patrick, and Erin and with great affection. They were always part of her daily prayer intentions. Rejoicing in their successes and worrying when challenges entered their lives. She was their constant prayer advocate, and I am not even sure if they know how much she loved and prayed for them daily.

Sister enjoyed crafts of all kinds and did many needle points. She enjoyed puzzles and was good at that too. Sister had a love for all animals, all kinds of animals! Birds and rabbits but especially dogs and through the years they were her constant companions. A few names come to mind Rex, Lassie, Sandi Sue, the first Joy, Chickadee and Katie. She could relate to them and they to her. Joy2, her little white Bichon, was special to her. They were inseparable and Joy gave her great comfort during her last days.

We are so grateful for your presence here today, thank you for coming to honor a wonderful Religious Woman who was faithful to the end.

We would like to thank Father Jim LaCasse, (SJ) Rose Mary O’Neill, all staff at Nazareth House, Fresno and Hinds Hospice. You were so kind and caring to Sister throughout her illness and in her last days. The true spirit of Nazareth is reflected in you as you brought alive our shared core values of Respect, Patience, Justice, Hospitality, and Compassion, surrounding her and us in Love!

A VIsitation for Sister St. Cecilia will be held Sunday, December 29, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Nazareth House of Fresno, 2121 N First St, Fresno, CA 93703 followed by a Recitation of Holy Rosary will 6:00 PM.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Monday, December 30, 2024 at the Nazareth House of Fresno, 2121 N First St, Fresno, CA 93703 followed immediately by a Committal Service at St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery, 264 N Blythe Ave, Fresno, CA 93706