Sophie Dolores Casali

Sophie Dolores Ferrazzi was born in Chicago on Valentine's Day 1926 to Isabelle and Eugene Ferrazzi. She passed away Sunday, Aug. 4, 2013, at her residence in Potomac.

She started singing as a young girl, and sang on the WGN "Stars of Tomorrow" radio program. She starred in plays and musicals during her high school years at Visitation High School in Chicago.

In 1949, she met and married Fred Casali and they began their life together in New York. After living in San Francisco and Phoenix, they settled in Chicago and raised their six children. She sang in the St. Cajetan Church choir in Chicago and later at St. Alphonsus Church in Lemont, Ill. Sophie was asked by many brides to sing at their weddings.

In 1992, Sophie and Fred retired to Montana, where they built their dream home on the Blackfoot River in Potomac. An active member of the community, she volunteered at the Potomac Food Bank, Ronald McDonald House in Missoula and the annual Blackfoot River Cleanup.

Sophie was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Fred Casali; her parents; a brother; and a sister.

She is survived by her children, Ellen (Lee) Lemmon, Sandra Mulder, Fred (Kathy) Casali, Thomas (Patti) Casali, Joan (Marck) Grills and Catherine (Todd) Kowalski; nine grandchildren; two brothers, Anthony (Pat) Ferrazzi and Edward Ferrazzi; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 9, at St. Ann Catholic Church in Bonner followed by a reception at the Potomac Greenough Community Center. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, at Garden City Funeral Home followed by a vigil service. Burial will be private by the family.

Arrangements are under the direction of Garden City Funeral Home and Crematory.


Read Sophie Casali's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.