Mary Ellen Serafini

Mary Ellen Serafini

July 26, 1952 – Oct. 2, 2025

A caring, sharing, and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and aunt, Mary Ellen Serafini passed away on Oct. 2, 2025, at the age of 73 after a courageous two-and-a-half-month battle with cancer. Her beloved and dedicated husband of nearly 50 years, David Serafini, constantly by her side.

Mary Ellen, born in Sacramento on July 26, 1952, was an accomplished student throughout her educational journey. She attended St. Francis Solano Elementary School and graduated from Sonoma Valley High School in 1970 before pursuing four years of studies at the University of California, Davis, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Geography with honors from the College of Letters and Science.

Upon returning to Sonoma Valley after her college graduation in 1974, Mary Ellen took a summer job at Gino’s Restaurant on the Sonoma Plaza – which later became Zino’s Restaurant and is currently The Plaza Bistro. It was operated by her future mother-in-law and great-aunt-in-law, Phyllis Serafini and Jane Blasi, respectively, and their Italian family.

At the popular authentic Italian establishment, Mary Ellen was an assistant to the head chef, David Serafini. Their working association blossomed into a romantic relationship, and after two years, they married on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 1976, at St. Francis Solano Church, with an Italian reception at neighboring Father Robert’s Hall.

At the end of the year, a decision was made to close the restaurant as the catering business flourished. Mary Ellen joined Il Desinare Catering in many capacities, especially enjoying her specialty of baking a wide array of wedding cakes. She also was a very active member of the Venture Club for Sonoma Valley.

Mary Ellen changed professions and worked in elementary education for the Sonoma Valley Unified School District when her husband David went to work at Mare Island, and after the birth of her two sons. Later, when David was transferred to the Monterey area for work, they bought a house in Hollister, where she worked in the same capacity for the local school district in Tres Pinos.

Four years later they bought their current homestead in Ukiah, where she again worked in elementary education at Grace Hudson Language Academy for the Ukiah Unified School District, while David worked for the Army Corps of Engineers.

During their three relocations, Mary Ellen and David proudly watched their two sons, David and Mario, graduate from high school and later college, where they earned Civil and Mechanical Engineering degrees from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Sacramento State University, respectively. Each forged successful careers as esteemed engineers in their specialty fields.

Mary Ellen enjoyed visiting her sons and grandchildren in the Sacramento area; spending time at the family lake house on the western shore of Clear Lake and taking periodic rides around Lake Mendocino and to Fort Bragg; joining various drives with the Mustang Car Club; and taking annual trips to Lake Tahoe and Reno. Accompanying Mary Ellen and David on many of their drives were their beloved dogs, Charlie and Dino.

Mary Ellen’s longest traveling adventure was a European Tour with David and one of her brothers and his wife, experiencing Italy – where they spent time with Italian relatives who live in Rome – and also visiting England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.

Over the years, Mary Ellen took several cross-country flights with David to Philadelphia, where they met up with a close friend who treated them to amazing live concerts, including one of their favorite bands, The Who. After one of their concerts, they both got to socialize with band members Pete Townsend and Roger Daltrey.

Mary Ellen was preceded in death by her parents, Wallace and Mary Margaret Bachelder; her parents-in-law, Aldo and Phyllis Serafini; her brother-in-law, Steve Louie; and her sister-in-law, Irene Bachelder.

She is survived by her husband, David; sons David Serafini (Melissa) and Mario Serafini (Suzanne); granddaughters Allison, Giuliana, and Olivia, and grandson Giuseppe; brothers David Bachelder (Michelle), John Daniel Bachelder (Dyani), Thomas Bachelder, and Raymond Bachelder (Jae); sisters Anita Louie, Angela Lobsinger (Jim), and Monica Gruber (Peter); brothers and sisters-in-law Steven and Margaret Serafini, and Gerard and Mary Serafini; 19 nieces and nephews; and nine great-nieces and nephews.

A private family ceremony will be held at St. Francis of Solano Cemetery in Sonoma, where Mary Ellen will be laid to rest.

Donations can be made to the American Cancer Society, Adventist Health Hospice/Mendocino County, or a charity of your choice.