Onorina Albertoni, age 98, died January 16, 2004 in Soledad, CA. She was born in Gordola, Switzerland on December 28, 1905. Mrs. Albertoni came to California in 1927. She spent time in Gonzales, CA & cooked for working men at the Frank Corda Dairy. She married Osvaldo Albertoni in 1929 and went into partnership with Charlie Gianolini in the dairy in Greenfield, CA. A few years later they went into the diary business with their brother-in-law, Iginio Sciaroni in Greenfield, CA. In 1943 they moved to Soledad, CA and started their own Dairy Business on Arroyo Seco Road. Mrs. Albertoni has lived in Soledad, CA ever since. Mrs. Albertoni was a hard working woman all her life, from milking cows to cooking for working men, sometimes as many as twenty. She has always had a beautiful garden. She loved baking cookies and knitting for family & friends. She was extremely dedicated to her family & was a devout Catholic and avid member of the Altar Society. She was truly a pioneer of this valley. She learned to read, write & speak English all on her own without schooling and became a U.S. citizen in 1954 and was so proud of her Swiss Heritage and being an American. In 1994 she went to Washington, DC, where she was honored by the Swiss Embassy for the contribution of Swiss-Italian Immigrants to the development of California Agriculture. She was a past member of the „Garden Club in Soledad, Our Lady of Solitude Catholic Church, and Former Charter Member of Madonna del Sasso Society in Salinas, CA, St. Mary‚s Altar Society and the Swiss American Club. Her husband, Osvaldo Albertoni; son, Oliver Albertoni; son-in-law, Joe Panziera; two brothers and four sisters preceded her in death. She is survived by her son, Clem (Phylis) Albertoni of Soledad, CA; her daughter, Esther (John) Pedevilla of Soledad, CA; her daughter-in-law, Barbara Albertoni of Soledad, CA; 12 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, 7 great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. A rosary/mass combination will be held Wednesday, January 21, 2004, at 10:00a.m. at Our Lady of Solitude Catholic Church, Soledad, CA. Burial will follow at Soledad District Cemetery. Any remembrances may be made to the VNA, Eden Valley Care Center, Soledad Mission or favorite charity. Published in The Monterey Herald on January 22, 2004