Obituaries

Surrounded by his family, Fioravante Giuseppe Buti passed into the loving arms of Our Lord on November 8, 2012 at the age of 86, following complications due to chemotherapy treatments for esophageal cancer. He was preceded in death by his brother Dante Pierre Ribero and survived by his wife, Jacqueline, his children, Carla Parker, Marcus Buti (Suzanne), Karen Bono (David), and Dina Duncan (Bradley), his grandchildren Jason, Michaela (Jonathon), Nathan (Eunice), Attie (Bob), Laura, Kimi, Kristin (Matt), Amber, Paul, Taylor, Keith, Nicky and great grandchildren Nolan, Emmett, Silas, Jillian and Calvin. Fioravante (Fior) was born in Italy and raised in France. At the age of two, he and his widowed mother moved from the little town of Buti, Italy to Hyères in Southern France. He bravely served his country during WWII in the French Resistance. While driving a halftrack under enemy fire, he rescued some fellow soldiers which earned him the high honor of the Croix de Guerre. With encouragement from his mother, Fior came to Niles in 1950, where he lived with his uncle. In 1955, he married his beautiful and loving wife, Jacqueline Biale. He was able to return to Hyères only 3 times, and spoke often of its beauty and the many memories of his beloved hometown. Fior was a successful painting contractor for 30 years. He was a very strong, hard-working man and took pride in serving the people for whom he worked. He was creative and artistic in his business and at home. Fior created many lovely paintings, sculptures and things of beauty at the home where he lived with Jackie for 57 years. He dedicated his life to loving, protecting and providing for the family God gave him. A man of integrity, his Catholic faith was very important to him. Fior had a rich and unique sense of humor, punctuating our lives with funny songs and sayings that will be remembered and quoted for generations to come. He was a huge force of life with a profound and awesome presence with which he led his family. As the patriarch, the Papa, he will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. Papa, you?re the BEST!!!!

Visitation was held on Wednesday, November 14, from 6-8pm with a Rosary/Vigil at 7pm at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 37891 2nd St., Fremont, CA 94536. Funeral Mass was celebrated on Thursday, November 15, 11am at the church. Private family burial to follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward, CA.

The family suggests memorial gifts be sent to St. Jude Children?s Research Hospital, Lucile Packard Children?s Hospital or the charity of your choice.