Retha Mae Mello

Retha Mae Mello of Watsonville, CA. died on December 3, 2023, of natural causes at age 90. She was preceded in death by her husband Frank M. Mello, Sr., after 72 years of marriage.

Retha was born on March 12, 1933, to Winburn and Lorena Roach, the third oldest of seven siblings: Orland, Willie, Retha, Joel, Roy Rogers, Caroline, and Sharlot (the only surviving sibling).

In 1950, Retha Mae married Frank M. Mello, Sr. and went on to have four children: Frank Matthew Mello, Jr. (wife Carrie), Pamela Georgiana Mello (deceased 2022), Diane Elaine Furtado (husband Joe), and Lori Ann Celeyeta, which expanded to nine grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.

Retha joined her husband's family farming business in Layton, CA. for about 5 years before they moved their small family of two children, Frank Jr., and Pamela, to settle in Watsonville in 1956. There they began their family farming business, Mello-dy Farms, commercially growing raspberries, blackberries, and various other fruits and vegetables in the Pajaro Valley for the next 50 years.

Retha enjoyed antiques and opened two antique stores over the years. She was an enthusiastic collector of salt and pepper shakers, accumulating thousands of sets. She enjoyed gardening and family gatherings, including a few hundred guests, friends, and employees at the annual 4th of July celebration on her home ranch.

Services will be held the first week of January 2024, to include eulogy, viewing and rosary at Mehl's Colonial Chapel, followed by the next day with mass and graveside at Valley Catholic Church.

Published in The Pajaronian · December 6, 2023