Nila Jean Bazzani

September 15, 1931 - April 29, 2014

Nila “Jean” Bazzani, known to friends and family as “Sunshine”, passed away on April 29, 2014, at the age of 82. She was born on September 15, 1931 in Ft. Wayne, Indiana to A.W. and Harriet Godwin. At the age of three months, she went to live in Albany, Georgia near the Florida State line. She lived there until she was five years old. Her grandparents owned a gristmill and a peanut farm, and her grandfather built her an exotic pond with lily pads, palm trees and furniture, and named it “Jean’s Pond”. At the age of five, after her parents’ divorce, she returned to Ft. Wayne, Indiana where she lived with her mother and grandparents. Her mother worked at Magnavox Radio Company. They had a summer home in Lake Wawasee, with a boathouse and several boats. Jean loved to fish from the pier and also to row her boat over to the different beaches. Jean had a very avid interest in music, and won a piano scholarship at the age of 12. Her favorite music was classical and pop. She attended school in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, but graduated from Arsenal Tech High School in Indianapolis, Indiana. She belonged to the Pi Mu Sorority of St. Louis. After high school graduation she attended some college. She was a talented singer an had sung on the radio. After leaving school, she worked for a phone company in Indiana and then for an insurance company. She later enlisted in the US Marine Corps. After her enlistment, she went to boot camp at Paris Island, South Carolina. She then served at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where she met her first husband, who was in the Navy. She had four children: a son, Michael Lee Tullos, born in Indiana; two daughters, Laurie Jean Tullos and Sue Ann Tullos, both of Quantico, Virginia; and a third daughter, Penny Lynne Tullos, born in Rhode Island. Her first husband, a Navy Corpsman, worked on submarines. Jean traveled from coast to coast for 20 years and finally settled in Napa, California. After her divorce in 1974 she met Glenn Bazzani, with whom she would spend the rest of her life. After an engagement of several months, they were married on April 25, 1975. They were always extremely close, and remained together for 39 years until separated by her death. She had a very great love for life and laughter, and always had a smile for everyone. Her life-long faith in God and His Word, as well as her strength of spirit, kept her active and vibrant for over 80 years. She formed many life-long friendships with those lucky enough to meet and know her and the great love she had in her heart for people. She enjoyed her pets, which included various dogs and birds over the years. She also was artistically talented, and enjoyed oil painting. She was fond of crocheting, and she made many crocheted Afghans for her friends and family. Her children all finished school in Napa, except for Laurie, her oldest daughter, who was accidently killed at the age of 15. She is survived by her husband Glenn of 39 years; son Michael Tullos; her oldest daughter Sue Villanuava, and her youngest daughter Penny Elldrege. Jean also has nine grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. She has a sister, Susan Payne, in Indiana, and a sister, Debra Godwin, in Michigan. Jean, and her husband Glenn, enjoyed traveling, camping, fishing, sports, nature, dining out, and various activities with friends and family. For many years jean was active in CB radio, where she was known as “Merry Sunshine”. She belonged to the Napa Valley Grape Stompers CB Club for many years and also the X-Ray Club. She communicated with other radio enthusiasts from different countries all around the world. She loved to talk, both on her radio as well as on her telephone. She also loved visiting, and being visited by, her many friends and family members. She loved people and was happiest when visiting with them. Jean and Glenn enjoyed playing games, watching movies, listening to romantic music as well as playing their own music together on their keyboard. Much of what they enjoyed playing the most was popular music from the 1930’s. Neighbors called them the ‘Midnight Musicians’ and enjoyed listening to them play. Jean and Glenn enjoyed traveling on the train, and they went on many camping trips together in their travel trailer when jean’s health would permit it. They shared a very active life together even after her illnesses intervened. Even then, despite the many physical problems she suffered from, she was as active as conditions would permit, remaining strong and spirited with her great love for life. She was a very devoted Christian, demonstrated in all aspects of her life, and was a member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Napa. She was loved by all who knew her and she loved everyone that she knew. She was a God-given Treasure, and an inspiration to everyone. A graveside service is planned for 2pm on Friday, May 9 at the beautiful Tulocay Cemetery here in Napa. Claffey and Rota Funeral Home is handling the arrangements, and she will have military honors at the grave site. All who wish to come are invited to come and say goodbye to this wonderful treasure and gift from God. Pastor Marvin Wray, of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, will be present to perform a short memorial.