Nettie Mary Descalso

Nettie M. Descalso (December 18, 1933 – June 11, 2024) was born Nettie Bernardi in LeGrand, California to Joseph and Yolanda Bernardi. The family, which included Nettie and her brother Annibale (Al), moved to Madera in 1941 and to Merced in 1946. She attended Merced High School and graduated in 1951. In 1952 she married Bill Descalso, also of Merced, at Our Lady of Mercy Church. They lived together in Merced, and raised their four children, until Bill’s death in 1986.

Nettie was the school secretary at Our Lady of Mercy School for 20 years. Later in her life she became a successful realtor in Merced. She was very active in her community, serving as President of the Mother’s Club at OLM school, at Our Lady of Mercy Church, and in Branch 39 (Merced) of the Italian Catholic Federation. Nettie was elected branch President twice and in 1997 she was elected Grand President of the ICF, an office she held until 199. Nettie and Bill Descalso are the only couple each of whom served as Grand President of the ICF.

Nettie is preceded in death by her husbands Bill Descalso (1986), Bill Del Nero (2000), and Tom Pollicita (2014), her brother Al (2019), and her daughter Gina (2023). She is survived by her children Judi (Dave Ferguson) and their children Bryan, Aron, Catherine and Annie; Mike and his children Joseph and Mary; George (Marylou) and their children Daniel, Angela, Stephanie, William, James, and Natalie; Gina’s husband Jason Renner and their children Matteo and Giulia. Nettie is also survived by her great-grandchildren Emelia, Luca, Dominic, and Zoey.

Services will be held on Monday, July 8, 2024, at St. Patrick’s Church in Merced, with Visitation at 9:30 am, followed by the Rosary at 10:30 am, and Funeral Mass at 11:00 am. A reception/lunch will follow at the Italo American Lodge in Merced. Burial will be private.

Nettie’s family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Italian Catholic Federation Scholarship Fund or Hines Hospice of Merced.