Former rancher's wife dies in San Jose

When Mary Ann (Ghiozzi) Ghiggeri first moved to a Marsh Creek ranch in Brentwood in 1925 to marry her first husband Anthony Ghiozzi, the couple were one of the first to farm extensively in the area.
Ghiggeri recently passed away at 100 years old in San Jose, where she has lived since 1950.
She was born Mary Ann Garbini in Gilroy on June 14, 1908, where she worked with her family on their San Martin ranch. This was the beginning of Ghiggeri's long life in ranching and farming. During her time in Brentwood, Ghiggeri lived a very active life. Her husband, Anthony, died at an early age in 1932, during the Great Depression, leaving her to raise three small children on her own. President Harry Truman recognized Ghiggeri as a Gold Star Mother.
"As a resident of Brentwood, she was admired and known by many, including Bill Bristow, former principal and superintendent of the Brentwood School District, who remembered her in his early years in the Marsh Creek area and her involvement in the community, which included raising and showing horses in Western competitions, especially with her son, Gene," Jo Ann Bjornstad, Ghiggeri's daughter, said.
Mary Ann met and married Andrew Ghiggeri, a San Jose man with family from the Brentwood farming community, and moved to San Jose where they farmed produce.
Mary Ann's brother-in-law, the late Emilio Ghiggeri, planted the first sweet corn in Brentwood in 1940. Her nephew, Roy Ghiggheri, and his brother-in-law, Glenn Stonebarger, continue to farm that same sweet corn in Brentwood. The two own G and S Farms (Ghiggeri and Stonebarger Farms) in Brentwood.
After retirement, Mary continued to grow her famous prized tomatoes for the Italian community; her customers would travel for miles to purchase her produce. She and Andrew made many trips to Italy, enjoying the food and scenery of the Italian Rivera, from where their ancestors emigrated.
Mary Ann died on Jan. 10 in San Jose.
"She lived a very full and productive life and will be deeply missed by her family and friends in Brentwood, as well as in San Jose." Bjornstad said.
Memorial services were held in San Jose. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Spartan Foundation San Jose State University, One Washington Square, San Jose, 95192-0062 or The National Shrine of St. Jude the Claretions 205 W. Monroe St. Chicago, IL 60606.
Epitaph
WHO: Mary Ann (Ghiozzi) Ghiggeri
BORN: June 14, 1908 in Gilroy
DIED: Jan. 10, 2009 in San Jose
SURVIVIORS: Daughters Norma, Jo Ann (Roger), sons Gene (Jena) and Andrew, and numerous other relatives