Charlotte Rita (Fernandes) Ponte, 86, died Monday, Dec. 30 at The Gate Of Beautiful retirement home in Modesto.

She was born in Tulare to Anthony and Ida (Alameda) Fernandes. She grew up in Tulare, where she graduated from Tulare High School in 1946.

After high school she became a homemaker and began building her family. She also worked for Hershey’s Chocolate in Oakdale.

She married Joseph J. Ponte Sr. in 1947 in Modesto. They were happily married for 52 years until he passed in 1999.

Mrs. Ponte was a member of Oak Valley Church in Oakdale, where she enjoyed teaching Sunday school and for eight years, she volunteered with the Oakdale Salvation Army community outreach program.

She is survived by her children, John (Bonnie Long) Ponte of St Helena, Steven (Kelly) Ponte of Antioch, Charlene (Michael) Barnett of Oakdale; siblings, Anthony (Gert) Fernandes of Santa Clara, Andrea (Daniel) Sozinho of Clovis; grandchildren, Elizabeth Barnett, Kathleen Barnett, Jessica Ponte, Joseph (Jack) Ponte III, and Michelle Ponte.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Ponte Sr.; son, Joseph Ponte Jr.; parents, Anthony and Ida Fernandes; and siblings, Joyce Vargas, John Fernandes, Loraine Fernandes, Madeline Funare and Bernadette Long.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 9 at Oak Valley Church, 175 South Bryan Ave., Oakdale. Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 10 at the San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery, Santa Nella.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Community Hospice of Modesto, 4368 Spyres Way, Modesto 95356.

The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader

Jan. 8, 2014