Julie (Leonardi) Isetta

Julie (Leonardi) Isetta passed away peacefully on February 29th, surrounded by her loving family. Her passing was quick, and she left behind heartbroken family and friends.

Julie was raised in San Rafael by her parents, Raymond and Marie Leonardi with her sister Joyce. Being a part of a big Italian family, she grew up surrounded by her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, all who lived within a few blocks of her. Julie attended Saint Raphael School, Marin Catholic High School, and Dominican College, where she earned her teaching credential. She went on to teach Fourth Grade at Loma Verde in Novato. Julie married her husband, Michael Isetta, who came from a large family himself, and they had five children together. As a teacher, Julie was active with her children’s education at St. Rita School in Fairfax, where she later resumed her teaching career. She was well-known for her wit, creativity, and joy that she shared with her students.

Julie’s family was most important to her, and she loved everything about being a wife and mother. She enjoyed taking trips to Tahoe with them and making day excursions to Sonoma or Bodega Bay packed with six-course picnic lunches. She loved trying new restaurants, going to the movies, and having game nights with her kids and their friends.

Julie’s greatest joy came later when her children started to have children of their own, and she was blessed with nine grandchildren whom she adored. Together with Mike, they made frequent drives to Petaluma for their various babysitting duties. She would spend hours planning yearly trips (especially to Disneyland), themed parties, and picking out gifts for the entire family. She especially loved Christmas, and the house was filled with packages ready to be delivered to her kids and grandkids.

Julie’s passing left a giant hole in her family, and she will be missed dearly. She is survived by her husband of 47 years, Michael, and their five children, Jessica (Nick) Somoff, Tony (Vanessa) Isetta, Greg (Katie) Isetta, David Isetta, and Maureen (Kaj) Kibak. She is also survived by her sister, Joyce (John) Boccabella, and her “sister-cousins,” Gay (Charles Schultz) Leonardi, Leslie (Joseph) Bronzini, and her many relatives and friends. Her grandchildren Ray, Frankie, Alessia, Lucy, Nico, Daniella, Owen, Eloise, and Toby are going to especially miss their Gangie.

A memorial mass will be held on Friday, March 22nd at 11:00AM at St. Rita’s Church: 100 Marinda Dr, Fairfax. The mass will be preceded by a Rosary prayer service at 10:30AM for those who wish to join. Funeral arrangements by Monte’s Chapel of the Hills, San Anselmo.The family prefers donations in Julie’s name to United Cerebral Palsy of the North Bay or the St. Rita Church Building Fund.

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