Teresa Marie Fanucchi

On August 30, 2023, at the age of 54, Teresa Marie Fanucchi passed away peacefully with her family by her side. The youngest of four, Teresa was born in Bakersfield, CA to parents Carl Fanucchi and Barbara Oscars Fanucchi. Much of her youth was spent keeping up with her older brothers: Robert, Richard, and Ronald, each of whom claim to be her favorite brother. She attended St. Francis Parish School and Garces Memorial High School (Class of ’86) in Bakersfield. With a never-ending thirst for knowledge, Teresa’s education continued at UC Santa Barbara. Upon graduation, she worked in the UCSB Orientation Programs for several years. She so loved her community there that she made Santa Barbara her home. Teresa had a lifelong love of cooking and nurturing people through food. She trained in whole foods cooking at Bauman College and spent several years as a personal chef in Healdsburg. Returning to Santa Barbara, Teresa was head chef at the Immaculate Heart Center for Spiritual Renewal in Montecito for nine years. While working there, she was instrumental in publishing A Place at the Table, a cookbook featuring her own creations as well as favorite family recipes. Teresa lived a life unencumbered by the pursuit of material things, prioritizing personal relationships and oneness with nature. She found delight in all of God’s creation, taking time to savor the beauty of flowers, trees, sunrises and sunsets over the mountains and seas. She especially loved birds and had an admiration for raptors. For years she volunteered for the Eyes in the Sky raptor rescue facility at the Santa Barbara Audubon Society. She was also a member of Threshold Choir Santa Barbara, where she regularly devoted her vocal gift to singing for the terminally ill. She was generous with her time and talents; no matter what someone needed—an uplifting song, the comfort of a caregiver, or just a simple visit—Teresa would be there. Family heritage was particularly important to Teresa. She spent years uncovering the roots of the Fanucchi, Bertolucci, Oscars and Haas family trees. She spent hours researching at the Mormon Genealogy Center in Salt Lake City and at the Santa Barbara County Genealogy Society, as well as interviewing family elders. Several articles featuring our family history were written by Teresa and published by Ancestors West in Santa Barbara. Her genealogical research even took her to Italy on multiple occasions. While there, she spent months discovering and forging family connections and immersing herself in the food and culture of Lucca. Her tireless efforts have blessed our family with an immense knowledge of our history. Teresa had lifelong friends around the world, especially in Bakersfield and Santa Barbara: relationships that were very dear and meaningful to her. Their outpouring of love and support during this difficult time has been immeasurably comforting to our family. We hold them all in a special place in our hearts. Our family is shocked by this sudden and unanticipated loss of our dear Teresa, but our love for each other is strengthened and we are comforted that she now enjoys eternal peace with many loved ones that have passed before her. Teresa was preceded in death by her grandparents: Ray and Julia Fanucchi and George and Bertha Oscars, uncles David and Michael Oscars, aunt Patricia Fachin, and cousin Mike Fachin. Teresa is survived by her parents, Carl and Barbara Fanucchi, and her brothers and their families: Robert (Carissa) Fanucchi and sons Giovanni (Francesca), Nicolo, and Gino; Richard (Marcie) Fanucchi and children Julia and Dominic (girlfriend Grace Hannum); and Ronald (Toni) Fanucchi and daughter Emily (John) Wood and their children Sonya and Evan, son Andrew and his daughter Adaline, and son Stephen (Alyssa) and their daughter Sophia; as well as aunts, uncles, cousins, and countless friends. Teresa had a special relationship with every member of her family, especially her uncle, Joe Oscars. The pair often enjoyed Condors hockey games together when she came to town. We all miss her so much and will do our best to keep her vibrant spirit alive. Services in Bakersfield were held on Friday, October 27, 2023, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. A memorial gathering will be hosted by Teresa’s friends in Santa Barbara on Sunday, November 5, 2023 (please email debbiefleming444@gmail.com for information). In lieu of flowers, donations in Teresa’s name may be made to Bakersfield Catholic Education Foundation (Garces), 2800 Loma Linda Dr. Bakersfield, CA 93305 (bakcathedfoundation.com) or Santa Barbara Audubon Society Eyes in the Sky, P.O. Box 6737 Santa Barbara, CA 93160 (please specify “in memory of Teresa Fanucchi”).