Genevieve (Gena) Bomprezzi (97) was born in Stonewall, Oklahoma, the daughter of Walter Scott Kirby and Willie (Stubblefield) Kirby. A resident of Madera, CA, for 83 years. Gena passed away Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at Madera Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
Gena graduated from Madera High School in 1944. She worked for Sherman Thomas Ranch and Federal Land Bank and retired from Federal Land Bank after 20 years. Gena worked alongside her husband on the family farm for over 72 years. She milked cows, raised calves, rode cotton planters, mowed alfalfa, drove tractors, irrigated, and sprayed herbicides. Even after her husband's death in 1999, she continued running the family farm with her two sons until 2017.
She was an uniter at family gatherings as well as a great cook. She was a beautiful seamstress and made clothes and costumes for her daughter and friends. She will always be known for her mechanical aptitude, as she would repair toasters, washing machines, dryers, etc. At one point in her life, she tried to do carpentry work at home, which resulted in shelving falling on her head, but that did not stop her from knocking a wall down between her family room and living room to expand it for family gatherings.
Gena was a Madera Cattlemen’s Association member, Howard School PTA, The Grange, The Madera Young Homemakers, and the VFW Ladies Auxiliary. Her most significant accomplishments were raising her children and grandchildren. Gena was selected as the Madera Chamber of Commerce Senior Farmer award in 2018, an award only given to two other women in the history of this event.
Gena is preceded in death by her husband, Rego; her mother, Willie Stubblefield Kirby, Father Walter Scott Kirby; siblings: Oleta Beltz, Odell Kirby, John Kirby, Walter Kirby, Jr., Donald Kirby, Doyal Kirby, and Christine Gilliam. Her sons survive her: Gary Bomprezzi, James Bomprezzi, his wife Sally, Gaile Rock, and her husband, David. She is also survived by her sister Bobbie Grigsby. She was the grandmother to Chris Bomprezzi, Brian Bomprezzi, Angela Tobolski, Anthony Bomprezzi, Colin Rock, and Katie Rock. She was great-grandmother to James Bomprezzi, Kendall Bomprezzi, Kathryn Garrity, Matthew Bomprezzi, Ian Bomprezzi, Alex Bomprezzi, Julia Bomprezzi, Ava Humphries, Taylor Tobolski, Tyler Tobolski, Olivia Bomprezzi, Sophia Bomprezzi, and James Bomprezzi. She was also a surrogate great-grandmother to Chloe and Elise Moorman. She was a great-great-grandmother to Peyton Garrity. Her fur baby, Midland, also survives her.
The family would like to thank Home Instead and Madera Rehabilitation and Nursing Center for their excellent care during the last two years. The family would also like to thank Bright Horizon Hospice for their care and compassion in her last days.
Visitation will be Thursday, May 18, 2023, from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Jay Chapel in Madera. Funeral services will be Friday, May 19, 2023, at 10:00 AM at Jay Chapel in Madera. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Madera.
Remembrances may be made to: Friends of the Madera Animal Shelter, 25916 Avenue 17, Madera, CA 93638.
