Alvera “Vera” Marie Marostica (October 11, 1921 - September 14, 2020)
Alvera Marie Pozzebon Marostica, cherished mother, nonni, and great-grandmother passed away peacefully at the Aegis Living facilityon September 14 ,2020, where she was cared for by their loving staff. Vera was born on October 11, 1921 in Bakersfield, California to
Giovanni and Luigia Pozzebon. In 1935 the Pozzebons moved to Montecito with sisters Lucy, Mary, and brother Eugene in tow. A handsome young suitor named Angelo heard there were some new girls in town, and it wasn’t long before he made his way over to meet
them. Vera’s father, Giovanni, was immediately suspicious until her mother reminded him they were long-time family neighbors back in Italy. Vera’s teenaged years included working on the family farm, and it was then she decided to put her skills to the test and signed on to
participate in a cow milking contest. Long before the Astros and Dodgers scandal, there was the Montecito Milking Conspiracy. Vera never had a bad word to say about anyone except the woman who swiped her blue ribbon. She was convinced her adversary had primed
the winning cow, and while Vera may not have won the competition, she easily won the heart of Angelo. They married on April 5, 1942. Shortly after they were married, Angelo was drafted to fight in World War II. He was released long enough to see Danny born on January
26, but immediately returned to service. He wouldn’t see Danny again for 20 months, after he was seriously wounded in Saipan. Once Angelo was back on his feet, the family returned to Santa Barbara. Michael was born in 1947, and Kathleen came along in 1958. Before settling into Fillmore in 1952, Vera, Danny, and Mike stayed in Santa Barbara
where she cared for the boys while Angelo got the Fillmore Liquor Store up and running. Vera managed the home and finances while Angelo pulled in the long hours. When Danny sat down to make model airplanes, mom was right there beside him prepping his work
surface. It was in Santa Barbara that Vera started to notice her boys’ natural propensity for sports. In fact, it could be said that Vera scouted Michael first. She introduced him to the world of baseball and even practiced with him in the street, kicking off what
eventually became a dream realized. Both Danny and Michael always felt supported by mom, and well fed. She made sure there were always plenty of shakes and towering sandwiches for her active, growing boys. When Kathleen arrived, Vera finally got her
little girl. She took pleasure in dressing her and eventually worked closely with her to make all her formal dresses and gowns in high school. Vera delighted in holidays like Easter when she could get dressed up for church and set up the Easter trail for Kathy. If you don’t know, it’s a tradition we have continued throughout many of
our families even now.
Vera treasured her family and she was equally devoted to God. If she wasn’t at home caring and cooking for the children, she was certainly at St. Francis of Assisi replacing the linens or at times taking the lead at church events. If Vera was holding court selling
tickets, you would most certainly find Angelo cooking prime rib or serving his libations. Many of their closest friends including the Villaseñors, the Pearces, and the Hardisons participated with her in the Padrinos Organization and the Altar Society. If you lived in
Fillmore, more than likely you knew the beloved Marosticas who owned the corner liquor store where you could find the whole family pitching in around Christmas. Angelo and Vera would meet you at the door and you could find all 3 kids wrapping the gifts for
their customers. As the kids grew up, the grandkids started to arrive and the store became something akin to Willy Wonka’s workshop where they would arrive hand and hand with Nonni to get their push-ups, and if they were lucky, a box would come home with many more to indulge in.
Vera and Angelo relished in having grandchildren. Her home was filled with the joyful sounds of laughter and mischief once again. While the girls delighted in handmade clothes for their babies, the boys loved to rough-house with their Nonno until Nonni cracked the whip or beat him down with an old flyswatter. As they got older, no matter how far
away the kids were, if the trailer could make it up to where they played or danced in recitals, nothing could keep them from cheering them on. The only thing better than being spoiled by Nonni was being fed by Nonni. There was no greater sign of her affection than leaving her house with a full belly. From homemade raviolis to her famous
gnocchi’s, family dinners were the pinnacle of being together. Free flowing Shirley Temples and chocolate chip cookies made for the most magical sugar high, and nothing pulled the evening together better than a bunch of buzzed kids running around with fireworks.
Vera’s life was enchanted from the start. She was swept off her feet from the moment she met Angelo. If you had the pleasure of being with her, you had the pleasure of being made to feel like the most important person in the room. She left this world immensely proud of
the family she created. Vera was a force of nature and she was a woman ahead of her time. We’re all blessed to have been embraced by her for nearly 99 years. Tonight, we take comfort in knowing Vera is back by Nonno’s side dancing to their favorite Ray Charles song.
Alvera was preceded in death by her parents Giovanni and Luigia Pozzebon, her sisters Lucy Sandoval, Mary Villard, and her beloved husband Angelo. She is survived by brother Eugene Pozzebon, sons Danny and wife Judy of Walnut, Michael and his wife Mary of Ventura,
and daughter Kathleen Holmgren and her husband Robert Holmgren also of Ventura. Alvera is also survived by grandchildren Kelly, Michael, Mark, Tom, Carri, Annie, Allison, Thomas, and Sarah. Her great-grandchildren include Andrew, Emily, Maya, Megan, Matteo,
Lauren, Logan, Jameson, and Josephine.