Arlene Rosetta

Arlene is survived by James Rosetta, her husband of 62 years; her son James Delmarter of Bakersfield and his wife Kathie, daughters Lynda Rosetta-Hall, Vicki Bassett and her husband Steven, Donna Rosetta-Hansen and her husband Brad Hansen, all of Fresno, "adopted" daughter Sanja Kovacevic of Fresno, grandchildren Mike and Christie Delmarter of Pheonix, Mark Delmarter of Bakerfield, Laura and Geoff Quiring, Adam Klusener, Kelly Hall and Melanie Hall of Fresno, Greg Hansen of Santa Ana, and Emily and Jonathan Newman of Portland, Oregon, plus 7 great-grandchildren; her Nephews and Nieces Frank Uhler, Barbara Lenmark, Pam Redstone, Dan Rosetti, Dennis Rosetti, Roger Struthers, Peggy Struthers, Jill Christensen, and Michelle Rosetta. She is preceded in death by her sister Dorothy Uhler, infant daughter Marcia Lynne Delmarter, and her son-in-law David Hall.

Arlene grew up in Bakersfield, California with her parents Nina Mae and Evert Holladay. Evert was a conductor for the Southern Pacific Railroad, and Arlene went to work for the Southern Pacific Railroad as a switchboard operator in the 1940's. Her marriage to Burns Delmarter produced a son, James Delmarter and a daughter Marcia. After her marriage to Delmarter ended, she met husband James Rosetta, who also worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad. That long and happy union brought forth daughters Lynda, Vicki and Donna. After Jim was transferred to Fresno by the railroad, they went into business with his brother, John Rosetta, as partners in Fresno Ag Hardware. Arlene was able to stay at home with her busy family.

Family was of first and foremost importance in Arlene's life. Her role as Grandma Arlene was one that she embraced, and she was instrumental in actively caring for many of her grandchildren for many years. She never missed one of their plays, concerts or other events. Arlene loved dancing at the Italo-American Club and attending Roger Rocka's musicals, where she was a season ticket holder for 20 years. She enjoyed doing her daily crossword puzzle, and she was a voracious reader, as part of an active circle of paperback book traders. She enjoyed a bit of gambling, and often she and Jim would ride the bus up to the casino, to be joined later by other family members for a buffet dinner. She enjoyed Fresno State football games, and for years sat in the "Red Seats" rooting for the Bulldogs. She loved animals, and was always willing to babysit the occasioanal stray or recuperating pet.

She was generous and fun, always up for a game of "Five Crowns" or "Apples to Apples" with her kids and grandkids during family parties. As a cook, Arlene had many claims to fame, one being her Persimmon cookies, against which all others are compared. Arlene enjoyed traveling, and visited Hawaii, Alaska, the Panama Canal, Italy, Greece and many other exotic places. In their motorhome, Arlene and Jim traveled up and across the United States, from Canada to Tiajuana, visiting National Parks in Utah and Arizona, New England many other places. She must have gotten bitten by the travel bug when she went on a cross-country trip with her mother in 1939, where she visited the famous New York World's Fair.

Grandma loved to donate to charities; in lieu of flowers please consider a donation to your favorite charity.