Vita Bruzzone

Vita Beatrice Bruzzone of San Francisco, California departed early morning on June 12, 2010, passing peacefully of natural causes. Vita Bruzzone was a San Franciscan native and the wife of the late Mario Bruzzone. They were married 45 years. Working together, they established a popular market and Italian delicatessen that contributed to the development of San Francisco?s Excelsior District. Vita was raised in San Francisco?s North Beach and was the eldest of five children ? surviving sister Bessie Stagnaro and brother, Joseph Sabella, and predeceased sister Rose Dagnino and brother Frank Sabella. She was the daughter of Anthony and Catherine Sabella. As a young woman, Vita showed exceptional aptitude in accounting and was destined for college, but economic times forced her to work to support the family. After marrying her husband, her business and customer skills flourished as they built a business together. Despite the long store hours, Vita was a dedicated mother, and an exceptional cook. All who knew her recognized her steady, gentle spirit and loyalty. She had a keen sense of humor. Holiday meals featured her extraordinary food but also her recitation of humorous stories which she regularly collected. ?Vita? means life in Latin. In all she did, as a wife, mother and business woman, she exuded a zest for life. When the time of her departure approached, she accepted it as she had her duties throughout life. Vita followed St. Anthony?s dictum? to change what you can, and accept without regret what you cannot. She is survived by her son, Arthur Bruzzone, and daughter, Kathi Beerbohm. She took particular pride in her grandchildren, Eric Beerbohm, an associate professor at Harvard University, and Elissa Jensen, an international anti-malaria health administer with the Federal agency USAID. Family and friends may visit after 4:00PM on Wednesday and are invited to attend the vigil service also on Wednesday at 7:00PM, and the funeral on Thursday at 8:30AM from the chapels of Valente, Marini, Perata & Co., 4840 Mission Street, San Francisco, then to Corpus Christi Church, 62 Santa Rosa Avenue, San Francisco, CA, where a Mass will be celebrated at 9:00AM. Committal to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma, CA. Because it was one of Vita's favorite charities, a memorial fund in her name has been set up at St. Anthony's Dining Room in San Francisco. Those interested can send a contribution to St. Anthony Foundation, 150 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco CA 94102, earmarked for the Vita Bruzzone Memorial Fund.