Obituary of Leona B. Gobbo

11/01/1924 - 05/18/2013 Leona was born in a very small town in Sefro, Italy which is in the Marche region between Perugia & Camerino. At the age of 23, Leona moved to the U.S. and settled in the Bay Area, she lived with her uncle John Spitoni in San Francisco. Leona became a U.S. citizen and went to cosmetology school and received her license and opened up her own hair dressing business. Leona met and married Jack Gobbo in San Francisco and together they raised 2 children, Lucy & Jack Jr. They soon opened an Italian restaurant in San Francisco in 1962 named "Gobbo's ", a few years later they decided to move to Santa Cruz, CA which they felt it was a nicer place to raise their family. She resumed her hairdressing career at their home studio when the kids were still young. Leona & Jack Sr. opened another Italian restaurant in Santa Cruz which the entire family worked at together named "Leona's Continental Gourmet" which they successfully ran for several years. Leona taught cooking classes at Cabrillo College, and she also had a cooking show on the local cable channel. She was an author of a cookbook, "Italian Cooking-The Poor People's Gourmet", and also wrote poetry and children's stories. She later worked for the Lipton Tea factory on the Westside of Santa Cruz. Leona's real passion was her love for cooking and creating new recipes and sharing these tasty treats with friends and family at her house. Leona's other hobbies included knitting, sewing, crocheting and inventing some crazy kitchen gadgets to cook with!. She also liked bowling, planting her favorite beans and spices from Italy in her garden & playing Texas Hold'em. During her final week of life, Leona was under Hospice care & passed away peacefully at her home in the comfort of her children Lucy and Jack Jr. and some close friends. Leona is survived by her children, Lucy Kostreba, Jack (Jay) Gobbo Jr. Grandchildren: Christopher & Catrina Gobbo, Breana Kostreba & a great grandchild Seth D. Wilson-Frey. A younger Brother in Italy, Erasmo Spitoni, A Son in Italy, Franco Fusco and two Grand children, Lorenzo and Alessandro Fusco. . Per Leona's request, there will not be a memorial service. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to Hospice of Santa Cruz County or favorite charity in Leona's name.