Obituary of Shirley Ann Lombardi

Her Legacy… Shirley Ann (Stephens) Lombardi was born in Boston MA on June 28, 1936, but we called her Bonnie. We also called her Mom, Grandma, Aunt, sister, boss, partner, & friend. Our mom had many loves. She loved to laugh. She loved to sing & socialize, & she was very, very good at both. She loved to play bunko with her friends. She was an awesome cook, caterer & party planner. She enjoyed playing the occasional slot machine & always knew when to walk away. She loved to read, learn, & engage in a good discussion. She was a big genealogy buff, and was proud that her ancestors included a sailing master on the U.S.S. Constitution and a notorious privateer during the Adams administration. She loved to travel. And she adored her cats, Mimi and Maya, who will never know how lucky they are. Bonnie overcame tremendous adversity in her early years. In 1977, she travelled from Texas to Butte County to visit her father in Gridley and never left. Along with her friend Charlotte Archer, she became one of Oroville's most successful entrepreneurs, co-founding Papacito's, the Hungry Bear, Mulligan's, C.L.& Harry's, and Party Central. She helped plan events and raise money for many social and community causes, and helped a number of new businesses get off to a good start. In later years, she lent her skills to help revitalize the Senior Center and volunteered at Oroville Hospital. Through it all, her warmth, wit, generosity, cool head, tireless work ethic, relentless optimism and enormous heart made better the lives of all who were blessed to know her. Her Family… Bonnie is survived by her children Joseph and Anthony Lombardi, Melody Hutton, and Stephen Straight, her brothers William Stephens and Robert Steen, and Isaiah Stein, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, of whom she was immensely proud. Shirley is preceded in death by her son Michael Richard Lombardi, her sister Nancy Owens and her brother David Stephens. Her Farewell Service… A Private family gathering will be held. Arrangements are entrusted to Ramsey Funeral Home 530-534-3877.