Ancestor Obituaries

Bertha Fahrig
1924-2011

Bertha Stice Fahrig was born to Elvira Marie Martinelli and Cecil Stice at home in Rutherford on Dec. 4, 1924. Her grandmother, Sarah Marie “Serefina” Merga Martinelli, was the midwife. Bertha was raised on a small farm where St. Supery now stands. She lived there with her mother, father and Uncle Elmer. Like many early farmers in the area, they grew prunes, peaches, grapes and various row crops. Bert went to school in Rutherford until high school, when she transferred to St. Helena High. She played for the softball team as a catcher. They may not have been the top of the league, but they had a lot of fun.

In 1941, Bertha married her best friend’s brother, “Bun” Fahrig, in Reno, Nev. He had recently left the Navy due to his father’s untimely death. Bertha’s mother-in-law was their witness as they ran off to get married. They lived in Rutherford with his widowed mother, Kittie Mahaska, and he worked at Mare Island. He was a Navy engineer and didn’t know much about the prune business his father left him. She taught him farming and he taught her how to fix the tractor. In 1943, Bun and his brothers-in-law decided to begin a fishing venture. They bought an old fishing boat. The whole family worked together to rebuild and launch the Kittie M on the Napa River and they made the front page of the Register. The family fished out of Bodega Bay on the boat to supplement their farm income. Bertha helped out a great deal, even though she was prone to being seasick. Bun and Bert shared a love of history and the outdoors. They spent many years roaming ghost towns, geological phenomena and fishing. She had a vast knowledge of local history, prune farming, trapping, skinning, Native American artifacts, geology, and weather patterns. In 1970, she lost the love of her life and had to take over the farm. Some local women spoke ill of her for such an “unwomanly” task, but she did what had to be done and she was good at it.

Bert was not just a farmer. More than farming and motherhood, it was the calling of caretaking that most spoke to Bertha. She was a blessing to many families and friends as she helped care for others. She took care of Bun’s grandmother and mother in their elder years. She volunteered to be the unpaid caretaker for many friends and family. She helped raise her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. When her daughter had to return to work, Bert tucked her granddaughters into the tractor seat next to her and took care of business. When her granddaughters wanted college educations, Bert stepped up to handle daycare duties so that both girls could finish college.

Bert loved people. She was the epitome of a people person. She wanted to know all about you and form a bond for life. If a person’s worth is measured in the friends they keep, she was a billionaire. Her gregarious nature extended to just about any animal she encountered. She was particularly fond of dogs and adored dachshunds. She was a champion of abused animals and demanded that pet owners were responsible for the lives of their pets. Up until the days before her death, she was still dispensing advice on farming, pet-sitting, and running her company. She loved working with the folks at Napa Valley Food Bank’s Brown Bag program.

She is predeceased by her husband, Marion Albert “Bun” Fahrig; her daughter, Kittie Marie Fahrig; niece, Jean Marie Rutherford Bianco; and her granddaughter, Dawn Catherine Otterbeck. She is survived by her granddaughter, Fara Otterbeck; and her great-grandchildren, Stephanie Nichole Small of Clearlake, Benkei Carth O’Sullivan of New York City, Mariko Zyanna O’Sullivan of Calistoga, Kenji Brandon O’Sullivan of St. Helena, and Fiona Ariel Catherine Otterbeck of Vallejo. She is also survived by her nephews, Dean Rutherford of Shasta City and Walter (Lorraine) McCarthy of Idaho. She is also survived by her great-grandnieces, Jennifer Bianco (Matthew) Sunseri of Napa, and Fillipo (Kelly) Bianco of Hidden Lake.

There will be a graveside service at St. Helena Cemetery on Jan. 12, 2012 at 11 a.m. A reception will follow at her home. Donations can be made to Napa Valley Food Bank.

Please share your fond memories of Bert at MorrisonFuneralChapel.com.

Irene


Ali Rutherford


Dawn Otterbeck

Jean Bianco


Kittie Marie Fahrig Memorial services for Kittie Marie Fahrig, who died on April 22, will be held on May 4, at 3 p.m. at her home in Rutherford. She was 60.

Born in St. Helena to Marion and Bertha Stice Fahrig, Ms. Fahrig worked as a CNA for 20 years before graduating from Napa Valley College in 1983 as a registered nurse. Upon graduation, Ms. Fahrig began working at the Veterans Home in Yountville and remained there until her retirement in 2000.

Ms. Fahrig is survived by her mother, Bertha Fahrig of St. Helena; daughters Fara Otterbeck of Cockeysville, Md., and Dawn Otterbeck of Napa; five grandchildren, Stephanie Small of Clovis, Calif., Benkei, Mariko and Kenji O�Sullivan of Molallla, Ore., and Fiona Otterbeck-Norris of Napa; and her former husband, Phillip L. Otterbeck.

Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of choice.

Arrangements made by Treadway and Wigger Funeral Chapel and Crematory.

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