Irene Gragnani

Irene Gragnani passed away on Thursday, August 30, 2018, at the age of 89, in Fresno, CA. Irene was born Thelma Irene Smith in Mason, OK, on April 23, 1929, the daughter of Melbourn, Sr. and Clemmie Smith.

Irene and her family moved to Tranquillity, CA from Oklahoma during the 1940s. It is then that she met her future husband, Don Gragnani. As fate would have it, Irene's parents would move back to Oklahoma before she finished high school.

As the story goes, Don Gragnani decided he couldn't live without Irene and went back to Oklahoma with his brother and sister-in-law, Frank and Billie Bertao, to marry Irene and bring her back to California.

The marriage between Don and Irene would take place in Oklahoma on May 24, 1948. After the wedding, Don returned to Tranquillity with his new bride. Donnie and Chub, as their family and friends knew them, raised their family in Tranquillity, and began their farming enterprise, eventually known as Don Gragnani Farms.

Irene was an active member of her community. She was a Fresno State Bulldog football and basketball fan and attended many games with her husband, friends, and family.

She was also a member of the Llanada Guild, American Cancer Society, and Fresno County Cotton Wives. Chub was a lover of all sports. She spent several years in a bowling league in Firebaugh, CA, and was a member of the Women's Golf Club at Fresno West.

She enjoyed traveling with her husband Donnie, family, and friends. Chub and Donnie traveled extensively to many countries around the world during their lifetime.

Irene was preceded in death by her husband, Don Gragnani; her parents, Melbourn, Sr. and Clemmie Smith; her sister, Velma Morphis; and her brother, Melbourn Smith, Jr.

Irene will be lovingly remembered by her son, Jerry Gragnani and his wife Ana, and their children, Gianna and Donnie; Irene's daughter Jeanne, and her children, Vincent Marshall and his wife Jessica, and their children, Mia, Lucca, and Natalia; and Tanya Marshall-Dias and her husband Carlos, and their children, Isabella, Ava, Giovanni, and Domenico; Irene's sister, Marie Ramsey; sister-in-law, Pauline Smith; numerous nieces and nephews; and lifelong friends. Although she went to reunite with her loving husband, her family will miss her greatly.

Visitation will be held at Stephens & Bean Chapel on Thursday, September 6, 2018, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.

A Funeral Service will be held at The Well Community Church, Fig Garden Campus, on Friday, September 7, 2018, at 10:00 a.m., with interment to follow at Fresno Memorial Gardens

Remembrances may be given to St. Agnes Medical Center; or Catholic Charities in memory of Irene Gragnani.