Rita Vanoni passed away quietly surrounded by family at her home in Somis, CA on Wednesday, October 5, 2016 at the age of 95.
She was born on September 23, 1921 to Annie Trinkaus and John Erhard Schreiber in Oxnard at St. John’s Hospital. Her father died when she was three years old. Through the years she helped her widowed mother and younger brother, John Schreiber (Jr.), make a living from a small grove of walnuts and oranges in what was then called Santa Susana (Simi Valley) and graduated from Santa Susana High School with the class of 1939.
When World War II began and the men were called to serve, Rita signed on as a one of “the girls” traveling from packing house to packing house throughout the state, helping to get California’s citrus fruit to market. During off duty hours Rita and the rest of the crew played softball, fostering her life-long love of the sport.
One day she met a young man from Saticoy, Leo Vanoni, who’d tried to join up, but had been told by the draft board and local Congressman to “stay home on your family’s farm and do your part by growing food”. They were married on August 15, 1945 at St. Rose of Lima Church, and that day, church bells rang not only for the happy couple but also to proclaim the end of World War II. Ration coupons they were gifted on the occasion were not needed and became a part of their wedding album, but one of their favorite gifts was a twenty-foot wooden plank that they placed across the Brown Barranca in Saticoy to give them a short cut to church.
The young couple, partnering with Leo’s sister, Melba and brother, Albert, bought property and moved to Somis in 1949. Leo’s father admired the view offered by the land and suggested the name, Rancho Bella Vista. For the next 65 years they followed Congressman Teague’s good counsel and farmed in the Las Posas Valley of Ventura County.
Rita was always right there to lend a hand with anything that needed doing on the farm, most often with at least one of their children in tow. Tractor work, planting, and harvesting, she did it all, even checking irrigation furrows late at night by a truck’s headlights and signaling Leo with a flashlight, up or down for more or less water. In the summer she took off her shoes and loved the cool relief of the mud on her feet as she walked through fields of sugar beets, lima beans or lemon trees. She found ways to “make-do” so that more land could be purchased, and helped plant some of the first acres of avocados in the county. All this while cooking meals, taking care of the house and raising their children, Charles, Marie, Laura, Edna and Glenn.
For many years she was a leader for 4-H summer camp, teaching organizational skills, as well as sharing her love of nature and the outdoors with hundreds of young people. She also found time to be a 4-H clothing leader for her daughters and many others over the years, helping with member events and serving on the county council.
Rita recognized that in an increasingly urban society it is vital for farmers to advocate for their industry, so, she became an active member of California Women for Agriculture, served in many chapter offices, assisted with regional and state events and represented California agriculture while learning more about the industry in other areas of the U.S. and the world.
Rita knew the importance of community involvement. She was a member of Sacred Heart Church, the Young Ladies’ Institute, Ventura Boat Club, Italian Catholic Federation, 4H and California Women for Agriculture.
However, there is one more thing that made Rita extra special. In 1956, Leo and Rita understood that as Ventura County became more urbanized, children’s connection to agriculture became more tenuous and remote and they decided to try to do something about it. Together with a group of other 4H leaders they put together a display of barnyard animals under an old tent at the county fair. In the years that followed they saw the need to continue to provide this connection to agriculture for Ventura County families. The exhibit became Uncle Leo’s Barn and a Ventura Co. fair tradition. They received the Ventura County Fairs’ MVP Award and the Western States Fair & Exposition Association Blue Ribbon Award in recognition of their unique exhibit and years of service to Ventura County. This summer marked the exhibit’s 60th anniversary. While the barn bears Leo’s name, Leo said that without Rita standing beside him, without her quiet strength and support, Uncle Leo’s Barn and everything his family is and has accomplished would not have been possible.
Rita Vanoni was a strong woman who raised a large family and was an active member of the community in many ways, through the years sharing her time and talent with hundreds of young people, a strong advocate for California’s agriculture industry, she went above and beyond the usual, providing opportunities for thousands to learn that they are connected to California agriculture.
Rita is survived by children Charles (Laurie) Vanoni, Marie (Jeff) Barratt, Laura (Roger) Masonheimer; Edna (David) Ennis and Glenn (Cheryl) Vanoni; eleven grandchildren, Charlie (Jewelyn) Vanoni, Ginger (Sven) Skoog, Matthew Vanoni, Mark (Gwyndolin) Vanoni, Jeffrey Carter, Heather (Chris) Walker, Michaela (Michael) Otani, Nicole (Anthony) Brooks, Tara Vanoni, Gwen Vanoni and Brandon Vanoni; and twelve great-grandchildren.
The family wishes to thank Lisa Aquino for her care and companionship. And Livingston Memorial Hospice for their assistance.
Rosary will be held at 7:00 PM, Thursday, October 13, 2016 at Sacred Heart Church, 10800 Henderson Road in Saticoy. Funeral mass in thanksgiving and celebration of Rita’s life will be held Friday, October 14, 2016 at 10:00 AM also at Sacred Heart Church. Reception in the parish hall following interment. Services are under the direction of Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home, Ventura.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that you consider contributing to the Leo & Rita Vanoni Scholarship Fund. Send your contributions to: Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF) 4001 Mission Oaks Blvd., Suite A, Camarillo, CA 93012. The fund helps to support Ventura Co. students studying agriculture.