Iole J. Pennell

Iole Pennell was born in Kingsburg, California on November 19, 1930, the only child of Pasquale and Amelia Fabris of Zoppola, Italy. Iole grew up on a small farm on Conejo Ave west of town, helping her parents with raisin grapes, raising a variety of farm animals and canning everything possible.

After graduating from Kingsburg High and Reedley College, and at the suggestion of her cousin Romana, Iole moved to San Jose in 1953 as an employee of Bank of America. In 1954, Iole and two girlfriends went to a dance at the USO where they met and eventually married three sailors stationed at Moffett Field. Iole and Charles would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on July 18, 2014. As soon as her three children were in school, Iole began working for Fresno Unified pre-school from 1968-1983. She returned to college in 1969, graduated with a BS from Fresno State in 1977 and a teaching credential in 1981. She taught Kindergarten at various elementary schools in Fresno including Lincoln Elementary until her retirement in 1996.

Iole passed away on January 27, 2014 and is survived by her husband Charles L. Pennell and three children; James and his wife Alma, Robert and his wife Tracy, Susan and her husband Michel as well as two grandchildren, Cole and Grace.

The family would like to express a special thank you to Carlos and Myra Cabiga for their extraordinary care and compassion.

A Vigil will be held at Our Lady of Victory Church, 2838 N. West Ave, Fresno on Friday, Jan. 31, 2014 at 7:00 pm.

A funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of Victory Church, on Saturday, February 1, 2014 at 11:00 am.