Virginia Bodnar passed away peacefully on Friday November 5th at Pleasanton Rehabilitation Facility one week after her 83rd birthday. She was the second born to Frank and Sarah Mowbray, raised in Oakland, CA and graduated from St. Elizabeth High School. In 1963 she met and married Joseph Bodnar (grocery clerk) and two years later they welcomed their first, and only child, Bob. They bought their first home in San Lorenzo and in 1992 moved to their final home in Livermore, CA. Virginia was a stay-at-home mom for the next ten years, shuttling her son to school, cub scouts, little league baseball and of course, kept a beautiful home. In 1977 she went to work for Oakland Scavenger Company where she spent the next 20 years before her retirement. In 1992 she and Joe welcomed another beautiful person into the family, their only son met and married Patti Dow. In 1994 Virginia and Joe welcomed their first grandchild, Natalie, and their second, Sabrina in 1997. They quickly turned their front room (parlor) into the “kids’ room” along with toys, stuffed animals, play structures, and all the things kids love. Virginia loved to cook and entertain! Through her Italian roots she made the best spaghetti gravy (not sauce). She was best known for baking her famous three-layer cakes for just about any occasion. Virginia loved hosting every family gathering, birthday, and holiday at her home. In 2011, after 48 years of marriage, her husband Joe passed. She will forever be remembered for her incredible strength and love for her family. Virginia is preceded in death by her husband Joe, her mother Sarah Zoffada, brother Thomas Mowbray, and father Frank Mowbray. She is survived by her son Bob, daughter-in-law Patti, granddaughters Natalie Ennis (husband-Geoff Ennis) and Sabrina Bodnar, sister-in-law Mary Mowbray, cousin/sister Denette Kirby, cousins Fred, Catherine and Steven Kirby, and Dani Garcia. Virginia’s final resting place is at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward, CA. Memorial services will be held privately.
