Obituaries : Mercedes Ruffinelli; Retired County Employee

Mercedes Margaret Arellanes Ruffinelli, a lifelong Ventura resident and retired county employee, has died. She was 70.

Ruffinelli died Tuesday at the Victoria Care Center in Ventura after a brief illness, said her son, Ricci Ruffinelli of Ventura.

A third-generation Venturan, she worked for more than 38 years for the county in various departments and agencies. However, she spent the most time supervising transcriptionists in the Probation Department.

After retiring in 1988, she spent time with her mother and took a 15-day trip to Spain, which was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream, her son said.

“She always wanted to go to Europe,” he said. “She loved history, and seeing the cathedrals and museums was something she always wanted to do.”

Besides traveling, Ruffinelli enjoyed dancing and would often go to senior citizen dances around the county, Ricci Ruffinelli said. She was also a volunteer in several organizations in Ventura.

In addition to her son, she is survived by a daughter, Vicki Davis of Ventura, and five grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home, Ventura.

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Arbogast, Lillian, H., 87, of Newbury Park, homemaker. Pierce Brothers Griffin Mortuary.

Graves, Lillian, 78, of Mariposa, homemaker. Pierce Brothers Griffin Mortuary, Camarillo.

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Ventura County obituaries are published free of charge as a public service to readers. Obituaries are based on information provided by mortuaries.