Sara Sabatini Bruno

Sara Sabatini Bruno, 83, of San Diego, was born in the fishing town of San Benedetto del Tronto, on the Adriatic coast in Italy. She was born to Domenico Sabatini and Emma Flammini. She was the youngest of 5 children and was predeceased by Luigi Sabatini, Serafina Sabatini, Adriana Sabatini Assenti and Renata Sabatini Brunetto. Her mother died when she was 7. She was raised by her mother's sister, Gilda Flammini. At age 16, she departed Italy on the “Marine Shark” with her 2 sisters Renata and Adriana Sabatini, arriving in the United States, in June of 1947.

She met the love of her life, Vincenzo Bruno, after her arrival in the United States and was married for 56 years until his passing in 2007. She was a devoted homemaker and had a passion for sewing, cooking, and caring for her family.

Survivors include her children: Dorotea Bruno, Emma Bruno Sofia, Nicola “Nick” Bruno (Antoinette), Margaret Bruno DeLao (Stevin) and Gilda Bruno Sanfilippo (Joe); 15 grandchildren: Angela Castagnola (Dominic), Vincenzo Sofia (Melissa), David Wieczorek, Marty Rose Sofia, Julia Wieczorek, Nicholas Sofia, Mario Sanfilippo, Marisa DeLao, Deana Sanfilippo, Vincenzo Bruno, Jacob DeLao, Sara Bruno, Rosalia Bruno, Nicole DeLao and Nicole Bruno; and four great-grandchildren: Vanessa Castagnola, Brianna Castagnola,

Malou Sofia and Emmalyn Sofia.

Viewing to be held from 4 to 7 p.m., Thursday, February 27, 2014, Merkley-Mitchell Mortuary, 3655 Fifth Avenue, San Diego. Rosary begins at 6 p.m. Funeral Mass to be held at 9 a.m., Friday, February 28, 2014, Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, Little Italy, San Diego. Interment after Mass, Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, 4470 Hilltop Drive, San Diego. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made towards thyroid research to the American Thyroid Association at www.thyroid.org.