Alberta Leigh Clerici

Our beloved mom, grandmother and friend passed away peacefully in her sleep at home on July 2, 2017. She is now reunited with her husband, Ray who passed in 2014.

Born January 18,1930, the loving daughter of Alfred and Irene Critchley. Alberta was raised in St. Helena until moving to Napa in the late 1940’s. After graduating from Napa High School in 1948, she went to work for Ferrari and Domminiconi, the local Studebaker dealership. While working as a bookkeeper there, she met Relio (Ray) Clerici who was working there in the shop as a mechanic. Two years later they were married and moved into a house built by Ray and his family. They had two sons, Donald in 1953 and David in 1956.

Alberta was a devoted wife and mother raising the family and supporting Ray’s Studebaker collecting and vehicle restorations. They would travel to Studebaker club meets up and down the western states. While he would swap car stories with the guys, she would update with the other wives, and pursue her lifelong hobbies of knitting and needlepoint. Many of her relatives and friends have afghans or Christmas ornaments that she had lovingly made over the years.

Preceding Alberta were her two older sisters, Ferne and Judith. Her younger sister, Deane resides in New Mexico. Alberta is also survived by her sons, Donald (Maureen) and David (Barbara); beloved grandchildren Evelyn and Brian; Sister in-law Diane Lawley-Jonas (Don), Sister in-law Louise Clerici (decd. Andrea Clerici) and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

A graveside memorial will be held at Tulocay cemetery at 11:00 on Saturday July 22, 2017 followed by a celebration of her life and memories at their reception area.

The family would like to thank Kaiser Hospice for their temporary care, especially her nurse Justine and aide, Loretta. In lieu of flowers, the family requests instead, donations be made to Kaiser Hospice, 1761 Broadway ST, Suite 101 Vallejo, CA 94589.

Memories and words of sympathy may be shared online at TulocayCemetery.org.

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