Obituary of Raymond John Spediacci

Services will be held Thursday, September 12th for Raymond Spediacci who passed away at his home surrounded by his loving family on September 4th. He was 89 years old. Raymond was born and raised in the Excelsior district in San Francisco where he attended local schools including Balboa High School. He worked as a painter for 25 years in the family business, F. Spediacci & Sons Painting. At the age of 18 he joined the United States Army Air Corps, serving in World War II. Raymond was a tail gunner with the 8th Air Force, 94th Bomb Group. He flew 32 missions in the European Campaign. Raymond received several awards for his service including 3 Bronze Stars. He was discharged as a Staff Sargent at the end of the war. Shortly after returning home from his service Raymond married his sweetheart Madeline, together they raised 4 children in San Francisco. Raymond and Madeline moved to Scotts Valley in 1970. Raymond worked in construction with his cousin Gene Bustichi on many projects in Scotts Valley including the City Hall. In semi-retirement he began a third career as a commercial fisherman working out of the Santa Cruz Harbor. Raymond also raised homing pigeons, a hobby he began at the age of 14 and continued throughout his life. Raymond is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Madeline Spediacci of Scotts Valley. He is also survived by his 4 children; Madeline Dee (Thomas) Miller, Johnny (Diane) Spediacci, Caroline (George) Acosta, Angela (Tom) Bouchard; 9 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and his 3 siblings: Urban Spediacci, Dolores Patterson and Evelyn Rockwell. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, Sept. 12th at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 126 High St., Santa Cruz. Interment, with military honors, will follow in the Santa Cruz Memorial Mission Mausoleum. Visitation for family and friends will be Wednesday, Sept. 11th, 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 pm at Santa Cruz Memorial, 1927 Ocean St., Santa Cruz. Rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in Raymond's memory to; Hospice of Santa Cruz County, 940 Disc Dr., Scotts Valley, CA 95066 or the Alzheimer's Association, 1777 Capitola Rd., Santa Cruz, CA 95062 or your local Veterans of Foreign War Post.