Manuela Ponzio
Obituary
Manuela "Nellie" Ponzio passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her family on Dec. 15, 2022, in Soledad, Calif. Nellie was born on Feb. 9, 1928 to Guillermo and Alberta Molina in Los Nietos, Calif. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Leo Ponzio; her parents, Guillermo and Alberta Molina; and her brothers, Juan (John) Molina, Alejandro (Alex) Molina, Guillermo (Willie) Molina, and Jesus (Jesse) Molina.
Nellie worked as a sales clerk at the Soledad Pharmacy for over 50 years. She also ran the Soledad Bowl with her husband, Leo, for almost 20 years. A devout Catholic, Nellie spent countless hours volunteering at Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad and attending mass at Our Lady of Solitude Catholic Church. She was also an esteemed member of the Silver Kings and Queens, and the Young Ladies Institute (YLI). Above all, Nellie was a loving mother and a caring friend who touched the lives of so many.
Manuela is survived by her daughter, Christine Ponzio (Bill Jones); son, Leonard Ponzio (Lisa Ponzio); granddaughter, Monica Noriega; grandson, James Ponzio; sister, Lydia de Leon; brother, Joe Molina; brother, Ernest Molina; and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family. She was loved and respected by all who knew her and she will be missed.
The visitation will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, from 5-8 p.m. at Woodyard Funeral Home in Soledad. A mass will be held at Our Lady of Solitude Catholic Church on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. with a burial and reception to follow.
Memorial donations may be made to: Soledad Mission, 36641 Fort Romie Rd, Soledad, CA; Soledadmission.com.
Published in Salinas Valley Tribune · December 16, 2022