Irene “Bimi” Santo passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by her family, on April 18th, 2025. She was 99. Bimi was born in Wakefield, Michigan on September 11th, 1925 to Annabale & Mary Ravelli. She had five siblings, born after her three brothers Louis, Gabriel and Denny, and before her sister, Bernadette. At the age of 16, she met Eugene Santo at a Christmas dance for soon-to-be deported WWII soldiers. Their first dance was to “White Christmas,” and it was enough to keep them writing letters while Gene went to war. They got married soon after he returned, and took the train to Santa Barbara, CA, where Gene’s parents lived. Bimi had never left Michigan, and quickly fell in love with the sun, sand and ocean. Bimi and Gene spent the rest of their lives in Southern California, where they had their daughter Debbie Santo (Golden).
Bimi spent her life taking care of her family over all else– she was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She embodied the strength, devotion and gentleness of the Italian mothers that came before her, and she passed that legacy on to those that were lucky enough to be loved by her. Her love was shown through daily, simple acts of care and kindness- a lasagna after surgery, fresh biscotti at Christmas, a hand-sewn halloween costume for her granddaughter, or roses from her garden with the stems wrapped in a wet paper towel and foil at every graduation. She committed a million tiny acts of love, adding up to a lifetime of genuine, selfless, beautiful caretaking.
Bimi is survived by her daughter, Debbie Santo (Golden), her three grandchildren Amelia, Allison and Jesse Golden, and her seven great grandchildren- Gracie, Owen, William, Jane, Nora, Goldie and Lilly. Her strength, love and kindness will live in our hearts and act as a compass for our futures. She will be greatly missed, and forever remembered.
A celebration of life will be held in early Summer.