Rosemarie Bothelio Vandoorn

Born June 17, 1928, in Santa Clara to Manuel Dias and Sarah Gama, Rosemarie grew up in the heart of old Santa Clara. She often shared stories of her youth, working in the canneries, sneaking out to ride bikes to downtown San Jose and attending school with strict nuns. These early years shaped the determined, independent spirit that carried her through life.

Rosemarie was a devoted homemaker and also broke stereotypes as a school bus driver at a time when women were rarely seen behind the wheel of a bus. Students would often say, “A lady bus driver?!” but she quickly became beloved by her passengers and the children often wished they could go home with her. She drove the bus to help her husband retire early so they could enjoy their years together. Always ahead of her time, Rosemarie saw the value in real estate investment, purchasing a dilapidated property in Santa Cruz at auction, drawing up plans, and working with her husband and family to build a fourplex rental.

She married her first husband, Theodore “Ted” Bothelio five days after her 18th birthday, following a whirlwind romance that began when her sister who was dating (and later married) his brother introduced the two. They were in love from the moment they met and wed in an intimate courthouse ceremony. After Ted’s passing, she found love again with Cornelius “Keith” Vandoorn, whom she married in 1997.

Rosemarie was preceded in death by her children, Judith Younse and Ted Bothelio. She is lovingly survived by her granddaughters, Jodie Younse and Jamie Foley, along with her four great granddaughters. Known to her great granddaughters as “GG,” she found joy in hearing about the kids’ updates, seeing their photos, and watching them grow, which was a source of pride and happiness that brightened her later years.

Her life was filled with adventure and community. A fantastic bowler with a distinctive throw, she once bowled a perfect game. She traveled extensively, from touring through Europe multiple times and a beloved late 1970s trailer club trip down to the Panama Canal. She loved square dancing, knitted beautiful pieces that are still worn 40+ years later and stayed active in the Santa Clara senior community plus the Widow and Widowers Club, where she organized trips ( where she met Keith). She enjoyed visits to Santa Cruz, driving along West Cliff and indulging in funnel cake from the Boardwalk.

Outgoing, fierce, and ambitious, Rosemarie never let obstacles stand in her way. Defiant in the best sense, she had a knack for “going against the grain” to live life on her own terms. As she liked to say, “I’m not getting older, I’m getting bolder.”

Services for Rosemarie will be held on September 13th at the Lima Family Santa Clara Mortuary. Funeral to start at 11am, burial Immediately following at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery.

Reception to follow at the Lima reception hall.