Maria Bullara

September 24, 1936 - February 21, 2014

Maria Bullara passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, on February 21, 2014 (at the age of 77) at her home in Moraga, CA. Maria was born on September 24, 1936, in Palermo, Italy where, as a child, she struggled through the perils of World War II. At the age of 16, she married the late Giuseppe Bullara and had four children. She will be remembered as a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. A strong and determined woman who immigrated to the U.S. in 1971 with her family, Maria went on to dedicate her life and love to raising and providing for her children in Saratoga, CA. Above all else, Maria’s life was sustained by a deep faith in Jesus Christ. She attended Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church and was an active participant in the church choir. She was later part of the Willow Spring Church congregation. In the years that followed, she received an education at West Valley College in Saratoga, CA and achieved a respected career in technology with Memorex and subsequently IBM, from which she retired. In addition to the love for her children, her personal journey was enriched by her passion for singing. Maria shined as a soprano with various chorales, including the West Valley Masterworks Chorale, with which she toured the U.S. and Europe. The high point of her singing career was her choir performance at Carnegie Hall in New York. Maria is survived by her four children: Mario, Rosalba, Fabio, and Marcello, and their spouses: Richard, Donald, Farah, and Alexandria respectively, as well as her grandchildren: Marilena, Francesca, Dante, and Giovanni.