Mary F. LoManto

Mary LoManto passed peacefully on July 18, 2011 at age 101. She was born August 14, 1909 in Pittsburg, California to Erasmo and Angela Ferrante. The family moved to Monterey when Mary was 5 years old, and she has remained a resident of Monterey for the past 96 years. As a young girl, Mary worked in the canneries on Cannery Row and also in her parent?s grocery store. But, her love was fashion design and sewing. She created a thriving and successful custom design and alterations business, and she was a much sought after seamstress on the Monterey Peninsula. She worked at Betty Brickman?s Boutique, JC Penny?s, Bachelor Shop, and Charmack & Chandler doing both alterations and sales. In the evenings, she helped her sister and brother-in-law, Kate and Ray Dillenback, at their popular Monterey restaurants, Carmelo?s Café and Casa Serrano. In 1930, she married John LoManto of San Jose, and she gave birth to their only child, Joseph Raymond LoManto in 1932. Mary?s husband John passed in 1990. Over the years, she lost her siblings Peter Ferrante, Bruce Ferrante, Minnette Ferrante Whitney, Angela Ferrante Territo, and her beloved granddaughter Shelly LoManto Balesteri who passed January of this year. She was a member of the Italian Catholic Federation (ICF), Native Daughters of the Golden West, Monterey Civic Club, and a longtime parishioner of San Carlos Cathedral. One of her greatest joys was sharing time with her family and friends. Mary is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Joe and Sharon LoManto; sister Kate Dillenback; grandchildren John LoManto, Joleen and Richard Green, JR and Crystal LoManto, Peter Balesteri; and, her great-grandchildren Alisa, Kristina and Peter Balesteri, Dezi and Bella Green, Joseph R LoManto III, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Visitation hours are from 5-7 pm on Wednesday, July 20th at Mission Mortuary, 450 Camino El Estero in Monterey, followed by a Vigil Service at 7 pm. The Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, July 21st at 9:30 am at San Carlos Cathedral followed by interment at San Carlos Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mary?s name to the San Carlos Building Fund, 500 Church St., Monterey, CA 93940 or to your favorite charity.