Viola Ruth Thomas Canulli

Nov. 24,1916-June 7, 2010

HAWTHORNE, California -- Viola Ruth Thomas Canulli, 93, passed away peacefully in her home on June 7, 2010.

She was born Nov. 24, 1916, in Danbury, Nebraska. She moved to California in 1939. She was a 30 year resident of Hawthorne, and previously 44 years in El Camino Village, Gardena, California.

She always told her family while they were growing up on the farm, she was her Dad's son. She carried her farming skills on to her own home in California where she cultivated a huge garden.

She was not able to be a leader of activities such as Girl Scouts, etc, but always volunteered to make phone calls and anything else she could manage to do to help.

Viola was involved for the past 50 years in sports programs and fund raising. In particular she helped with junior All-American football, Leuzinger High School football and El Camino College football.

She was an avid square dancer and bowler, and she surprised everyone with a "300 scratch" game when she was 80.

Anything family related she was there! Any stray that showed up, no matter whether it was animal or human, they had a place to stay with us. Due to her life long love of animals, any donations are recommended to go to the Humane Society.

Viola was preceded in death by her parents, John and Susie Thomas of Danbury; husband, Robert Canulli; sister, Bessie Thomas Knight Wade and husband, Dale Knight; and brothers-in-law, Wallace Turkovich and Robert Grossman.

Viola is survived by her sisters, Letha Thomas Turkovich and June Thomas Grossman; children, Deloris and husband, Kenny Clack, Tommy and wife, Lori Simons, Sandra Salveson Williams and husband, Eugene, Toni and husband, Marty Sanders, Vickie and husband, Bill Bianco, Fawn Canulli, and Joey and wife, Mitra Canulli; 13 grandchildren, Eric, Shereen Zerrener, and Larry Clack, Olinda Monaco and Brandi Hawkes Simons, Natalie Nance, Gary and Chase Salveson, Nikki Cribbs, Melissa, Lorinda Shew, and Kimberly Bolling Bianco, and Dawn Vides Mendez; 24 great-grandchildren, Desiree Ritschl, Camden Norman, Bennett and Garrett Clack, Starr Vorck, Brooke and Karly Zerrener, Brandon and Cameron Clack, Connor and Amber Hawkes, Madison Monaco, Glenn and Julie Novak Nance, Bonnie and Summer Salveson, Tyler and Aleksey Cribbs, Anthony, Ashley and Adam Shew, Josh and Brittany Bolling, and Samantha Mendez, seven great-great-grandchildren, Karmann and Khloe Ritschl, Knox Norman and Skyler Vorck, Juliana and Grace Novak, and Dillon Nance.

Graveside services were held at Green Hills Cemetery in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.