Cherrie Denise Bonvini (60), a dynamic and cherished member of both the Fresno and Madera community, suddenly passed away on Tuesday May 22, in the early morning. Cherrie was born in Fresno on August 21, 1952 to Robert and Joanne Bonvini. She attended McLane High School and North Hollywood High School, where she graduated in 1970. She eventually moved back to Fresno. Cherrie was a classic and even stunning beauty, with hazel and dark hair. It was at a dance at the Rainbow Ballroom that her soon-to-be husband Ralph Pistoresi first set eyes on her. Within a day he'd tracked her down at her job at Gottschalks, asked her out, and in a year's time they were married.
In the first years of their marriage, she worked hard to raise a family for their three children, as well as build the family farming business. She was ambitious, determined, and creative, and there was no work beneath her. In the early days of their marriage she would rise at two o'clock in the morning to make burritos to sell from back of her old Cadillac to the farm workers.
Her joy was to better the lives of those around her, whether it be her family, friends, relatives or even strangers. Her heart and eye was always inclined towards those in need. All the money she'd saved from her small burrito business she spent on her parents, buying them new clothing and sending them to Italy.
She worked in the Pistoresi family farming operation, and in 1992 opened Vintage House on Ave 12 in Madera. Vintage House, first conceived as a coffee house, soon expanded to become a full service restaurant, including a venue for weddings and wine tastings. After the Vintage House burnt down, Cherrie turned her attention to the family farming operations and as an owner and manager of MidValley Investments LLC, she was involved real estate development in the Tower district. In the last two years, along with her daughter Natalie Bunch, she started Fringe salon in North West Fresno, bringing her creative eye, high sense of style and touch of glamour to the central valley. She was also involved it the restoration of a 18th C. estate in Tuscany that she dreamed of making a retreat for her family and friends.
She had friends all over the world, and locally she is survived by her husband Ralph Pistoresi, her three children Jason, Domonic, Natalie and her husband Curtis Bunch, her mother-in-law Marian Pistoresi, her brother in law Jim Pistoresi and his three sons Adam, Steve and Anthony, her sisters Deanna Ham and her children Anna and Christopher, and her nieces Crystal, Jennifer, and Desiree. She leaves behind five grandchildren Mariah, Alexis, Gianni, Emilio, and Colton.
Visitation will be on Tuesday, May 28, 2013 from 2 to 8 pm at Jay Chapel in Madera.
A Funeral Service will be on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 at 11 am in the G.L. Johnson Chapel at Peoples Church of Fresno.
Private Entombment will be at Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum in Madera.
Remembrances may be made to St. Jude's Children Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, or to the donor's favorite charity.
She worked in the Pistoresi family farming operation, and in 1992 opened Vintage House on Ave 12 in Madera. Vintage House, first conceived as a coffee house, soon expanded to become a full service restaurant, including a venue for weddings and wine tastings. After the Vintage House burnt down, Cherrie turned her attention to the family farming operations and as an owner and manager of MidValley Investments LLC, she was involved real estate development in the Tower district. In the last two years, along with her daughter Natalie Bunch, she started Fringe salon in North West Fresno, bringing her creative eye, high sense of style and touch of glamour to the central valley. She was also involved it the restoration of a 18th C. estate in Tuscany that she dreamed of making a retreat for her family and friends.
She had friends all over the world, and locally she is survived by her husband Ralph Pistoresi, her three children Jason, Domonic, Natalie and her husband Curtis Bunch, her mother-in-law Marian Pistoresi, her brother in law Jim Pistoresi and his three sons Adam, Steve and Anthony, her sisters Deanna Ham and her children Anna and Christopher, and her nieces Crystal, Jennifer, and Desiree. She leaves behind five grandchildren Mariah, Alexis, Gianni, Emilio, and Colton.
Visitation will be on Tuesday, May 28, 2013 from 2 to 8 pm at Jay Chapel in Madera.
A Funeral Service will be on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 at 11 am in the G.L. Johnson Chapel at Peoples Church of Fresno.
Private Entombment will be at Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum in Madera.
Remembrances may be made to St. Jude's Children Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, or to the donor's favorite charity.
