Mabel Virgina Moore

Mabel Virginia Moore, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on September 28, 2026, in Modesto, California, at the age of 99. She was born on March 28, 1927, in Escalon, California, to loving parents, Sofia Mineni and John Mineni. Raised on a farm in Escalon, she graduated from Escalon High School in 1945. After graduation, Mabel moved to Fresno, CA, where she worked for the Santa Fe Railroad.
It was in Fresno that Mabel’s life took a particularly memorable turn. She rented a room from Tom and Isabel Moore, who quickly became fond of her and hoped to introduce her to their eldest son, Tom. Before that could happen, however, their son Bill returned home from the Navy and, as the family story goes, “”swept her off her feet.””
Mabel and Bill became engaged on Valentine’s Day in 1946 and were married that April, beginning a life together centered on family.
Mabel later worked as a school secretary for the San Leandro Unified School District, where she became a familiar and welcoming presence to generations of students, families, and educators.
Once retired, Mabel and Bill enjoyed traveling. Their favorite trips were to Virginia and the Azores when their cherished grandsons were living there.
Her Catholic faith and service to others were important parts of Mabel’s life. She was a longtime parishioner of Transfiguration Catholic Church in Castro Valley and was a founding member of the Bread of Life Ministry at Transfiguration, reflecting her commitment to her faith, her community, and helping those in need.
Mabel loved to bake, and her recipes were legendary. When she wasn’t baking, she loved to work in her garden. She could grow anything and had a beautiful garden to prove it.
Mabel was preceded in passing by her husband, parents, sister, Livia, and son, Bill. She is survived by her daughter Virginia McGiff and husband, Richard; grandsons Patrick and Richard; granddaughter Theresa; and great-granddaughters Corrine, Teagan, and Sierra.
Over the course of her remarkable 99 years, Mabel witnessed nearly a century of change while building a life defined by family, faith, service, and enduring relationships. Her family will remember her stories, her devotion to those she loved, and the example she set through a lifetime of caring for others. Her memory and the values she carried will live on through the generations of her family.
Family and friends are invited to celebrate Mabel’s life at Transfiguration Catholic Church at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 22, at 4000 E. Castro Valley Blvd., Castro Valley. She will be laid to rest at St. John’s Cemetery in Escalon, CA. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in her memory to Seva Hospice, 5380 Pirrone Rd. Ste. 301A, Salida, CA 95368 or the charity of the donor’s choice that helps the less fortunate or those in need.