Vance A. Lusetti

 Vance Lusetti, 87, was born July 2, 1936, in East Ely, Nevada, to Vincent F. and Lesina (Settefrati) Lusetti. His father worked for Kennecott Copper for 40 years, in addition to working as a washer/dryer repairman and at his family’s dairy farm. Vance’s mother was born in San Pietro Avellana, Italy, and moved to Nevada at the age of six. Vance grew up with two younger brothers, Roger and Gary, both of whom predeceased him.

 He attended school in Ely and always talked about being a school bus driver when he was in high school, noting that the girls all wanted to sit up front to be close to him. He began college at St. Mary’s College in the Bay Area, but soon went to work for the phone company, starting by collecting change from pay phones.

 With a wonderfully likable nature and loving to work with people, Vance was a natural salesman. He began his sales career in men’s suits at Emporium-Capwell in San Francisco and then had a career of over 30 years with Samsonite Luggage.

 Vance married Eleanor Wright of Ely on April 12, 1958, and they had four children. While raising their young family, they lived in the Bay Area, Ely, Nevada, and Denver, Colorado.

 After covering northern California for Samsonite for years, Vance was moved to the company’s headquarters in Denver. In the early 80’s Vance transferred back to sales to cover Southern California. He married Patricia Kirley in 1982, and they lived in Oceanside for 42 years.

 True to his Italian heritage, Vance was a great cook, and he loved feeding people. Vance cooked at a soup kitchen run by St. Francis Parish in Vista, preparing over 100 meals every Monday night for over 20 years. He also served as a Eucharistic Minister for the parish, delivering communion to the homebound, and met with his men’s prayer group at 6:00 a.m. every Friday for over 15 years. After Vance retired from Samsonite in 1998, he volunteered for Catholic Charities in Vista for over ten years.

 Vance developed Alzheimer’s Disease in his 80’s, but was happy as long as he could be at home. Pat cared for him at home, with help from wonderful caregivers from Lightbridge Hospice for the last year of his life. He died on Easter, March 31, 2024.   

 Vance is survived by his wife, Pat, son Kurt (Penny) Lusetti of Concord, California, son Karl (Shelley) Lusetti of Las Cruces, New Mexico, daughter Gina (Lee) Burdick of Diamond Springs, California, daughter Lesina (Michael) MacPherson of Sacramento, California, and 8 grandchildren.

 His memorial mass will be at St. Francis Parish in Vista, and he will be buried in Pat’s family plot at Holy Cross Cemetery in Townsend, Montana.

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