Obituary of Virginia Lee Rinetti
Her Legacy-Virginia Lee Rinetti, born May 18, 1937 in Denver, Colorado to Catalino “Lee” Armijo and Mary Margaret Cordelia Rivera, died January 22, 2018 at Oroville Hospital surrounded by loving family. She was preceded in death by both her parents, her sister Joann and her first husband, Frank Alan Isham Sr. with whom she had five children and her grandson, Brian Mitchell Isham. As a young wife, Virginia often worked outside the home doing everything from data entry to volunteer work for myriad organizations including the Cancer Society and the P.T.A. It wasn’t until she returned to school in 1968 that she found her true calling as a Licensed Vocational Nurse working in the Critical Care Unit of San Leandro Memorial Hospital in the Bay Area. After medical issues forced her into early retirement in 1984, Virginia was able to care for her two grandchildren while their mother served in Iraq. After she moved to the Josephine Lum Lodge in Hayward, CA, she learned to re-finish furniture, she became an avid theater-goer, and even performed as part of an improv story-telling group. If you can’t tell by the photo, Virginia loved to make people laugh. She was happiest when entertaining large groups of family or friends with her “Bana Cada”and those who knew her well were treated to her home-made Almond Roca and “Biscochito” cookies every Christmas. She moved to Oroville in 2006 and when she passed she was Treasurer and Chief Coffee Maker/Event Planner for the Winston Gardens Clubhouse. She was a devout Catholic and a dedicated Raider’s fan.
Her Family-Virginia is survived by her three siblings, Karen Downey (Walter), Gayle Rasmussen (Pete) and Gary Watts, her five children, Rachelle Parker, Lynne Davidson (Don), Frank Isham Jr., Kelli Hyden (Dennis) and Carlton Isham, her 8 grandchildren, Damian Guptill (Charity), Leeanne Doss, Marybeth Gonsalves, Robert Williams, Matthew Isham, Becca Isham, Jessie Stone (Dan) and David Lock and 10 great-grandchildren Ashlyne Moore, Shyanne Guptill, Alexis, Angelica and Keanu Doss, Zoe and Serenity Davidson, Michael, Jenna and Mason Stone and numerous loving cousins.
Her Farewell Service-A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, January 31st at 10:30 am at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 1330 Bird Street, Oroville, CA. A Rosary will be said for her at 10 am on the same day. Virginia will be interred privately at Memorial Cemetery with her Mother and Step-Father. In lieu of flowers, the family gratefully requests that you remember to let the child in you come out to play (no matter your age) and to support local theater.
Arrangements are entrusted to Ramsey Funeral Home 530-534-3877
