Kathleen Marie Martini Ricciardi, a native of Pacific Palisades, died peacefully in her sleep on June 28 from complications of metastatic melanoma. She was 58. Born on March 15, 1950 in Los Angeles, Kathleen attended Corpus Christi School and graduated from Palisades High School in 1968. She met her first husband while attending UCLA, got married and moved to Alaska, where her firstborn, Jennifer Shawn Merlo, died a crib death. Kathy also lived in Oxnard and Pacific Palisades, raising five more daughters: Mrs. Kristin McLamb (husband Keith), Angele Merlo, Nicole Bruner, Bridget Ward (Jordan) and Melissa Bruner. The latter three also attended Palisades High. A devoted mother, seamstress, and artist, Kathy delighted in making dresses and playclothes for her children and grandchildren.’ She is survived by her large extended family, including her parents, Dr. Michael and Elaine Martini; two sisters, Mrs. Barbara Laubacher (Thomas) and Eileen McCranie (Timothy); three brothers, Fr. Dick Martini, Jim Martini (Michelle) and Joe Martini (Jenny); five daughters; and five grandchildren: Melody, Matthew and Mindy McLamb and Anthony and Samantha Merlo. Funeral services were conducted by Fr. Dick Martini at Corpus Christi Church on July 2. The family requests that donations in Kathy’s name be made to Heal the Bay, Palisades-Malibu YMCA, or the Martini Family and Friends Scholarship Fund at St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo.
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