Winifred Clare Doleshel

Lifelong resident of Santa Clara. Daughter of the late Joe and Rose Cabral. Sister to the late Lawrence, Arthur, and Irving Cabral as well as Josephine Ravizza and Dorothy Collier. Wife of the late Lt. Bernie Doleshel (SCPD). Mother to Warren Doleshel (San Jose), grandmother to Keith Doleshel (San Jose) and Craig Doleshel (location unknown). Aunt to Gail Collier (Salt Lake City), Karen Fain (Baton Rouge) and Randy Cabral (location unknown)

Winnie was very proud of her Santa Clara roots (SCHS class of 1944). She worked at the old Santa Clara movie theatre and at the El Paseo Creamery where she met her future husband, Bernie. They married in 1952 and remained a couple until Bernie’s death in 2006. Winnie was a caregiver for her mother Rose from 1965-1983, helping to nurse Rose through heart attacks, strokes, blindness, and an amputation. Several years after the death of her mother, Winnie had new life to help care of with the birth of her two grandsons. Winnie made sure to spoil the grandsons with movies, board games, puzzles, video games, and special desserts. She also went to many of her grandchildren’s sporting events and school functions. The kids were a great source of pride to her. Winnie even started to watch the 49ers knowing her grandkids and son were at the games.

Winnie was diagnosed with the brutal affliction of Alzheimer’s in 2005 and battled this truly awful and devastating disease for 9 years. The son would like to thank the following caregivers who stuck it out to the bitter end- Julie Lacsama, Dawny Domingo, Fidelia Non, and Anita Paras. Also special thanks to fellow travelers in caregiving who truly understand sacrifice and provided invaluable support- Jan Silva, Dan Ramirez, and Gail Collier who all went above and beyond. Thanks to those who lent moral support- Lincoln Avenue Round Table (Ron, Chuck, Sandra, and staff), Jake’s of Willow Glen (Tim, David, Alex, Luis, and all who lent an ear at the bar), Country Inn Café, Hick’ry Pit, Fiorillo’s, and Philly’s. Thanks to the staff of Dr. Steven Nemirov, Dr. Thomas McGuirre, Dr. Robert Barr, Dr. Michael Cahn, Dr. Berdeen Coven, and CBS Pharmacy on Homestead Road in Santa Clara. Also a big thank you to Rick Fiore, John Cefalu, Santa Clara Police Dept., Mark Gray of Bruni Gallery, Mark Wilson of the San Jose Giants for prior employment, Gregory Mitchell for the hospitality, Uncle Ray Doleshel for always remembering her, Roger Tungas for your kindness, Gurnaam her friend from Carli Park where Winnie took her much beloved Jack Russell Terrier, Maggie. Also special thanks to neighbors Todd and Shannel, Mary from Taqueria Tlaquepaque, Horace from Rasputin’s, Priya and Venkat Vasan, from the Campbell Post Office Susan Shishito, Steve McDougal, Eddie Wong, and Greg Gorman. Also thanks to my two big extended families, all of my previous customers on my postal routes in Campbell (west Campbell and Dry Creek areas). Finally, a special thank you to my son Keith Doleshel for being there at the death of both his grandparents and helping out with all of the arrangements. That is what family is supposed to be about.

A memorial service to honor Winnie’s life will be held at 11:00 am at Lima Family in Santa Clara. Burial immediately to follow at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations be made in Winnie’s honor to any type of animal rescue fund (her dog Maggie was a pound puppy) or any type of Alzheimer’s support group.