Obituary: Brother Peter Farnesi, S.D.S., Sept. 12, 1926 – May 2, 2025

For The Madera Tribune

Peter Farnesi.

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Raleigh Farnesi was born in Madera, CA, in 1926 to Alfredo (Skeeko) Farnesi and Caterina Farnesi, immigrants from Italy. In his youth he enjoyed horseback riding and competing in rodeo. He served in the U.S. Army and, in 1956, responding to a notice in the Catholic Register looking for people to join the Society of the Divine Savior, he bought a one-way ticket on the Santa Fe Chief to Wisconsin. There he entered the monastery at St. Nazianz and, taking the name Peter, began his life work as a Salvatorian brother.

In 1960 he was sent to missionary service in the former Tanganyika. He said these were the happiest days of his life. “I was helping people to get a better life and to get to know Jesus.” In his 24 years in Africa, he learned to speak Swahili, started a farm, built dispensaries, schools and wells, and brought electricity to the village, as well as tending to the various needs of the people with whom he lived. He kept the people of Nandembo in his heart for the rest of his life. Returning to the U.S. in 1984, he continued his service, managing a retreat center in Helenwood, TN, where he loved the natural surroundings and cared for his horse, Kiko. Later he oversaw maintenance at a school for troubled teens in Silver Spring, MD. His retirement years were spent in Florida and at the Alexian Village in Milwaukee, WI, where he enjoyed gardening and listening to opera, and became close friends with many of the residents. He continued, with the help of friends and donors, to support projects in Tanzania.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brother, William Farnesi (Bruna), and sisters, Mabel Errecart (Mitchel) and Betty Colan (Gene).

He is survived by his sister, Lillian Wagner (Gerald) of Issaquah WA, his nephews Michael Eastman (Mary), Patrick Eastman, Donald Farnesi (Cheryl) and David Wagner (Paige), his nieces Michelle and Sally Errecart, grandnephews and his brothers and sisters in the Salvatorian family.