Dorothy was born and raised in San Francisco’s predominately Italian North Beach. She was the youngest of Pietro and Maddelena’s six surviving children (three having died at very young ages). Dorothy loved growing up in ‘the Beach’ and playing in various parks in the neighborhood – legendary, local idol Joe DiMaggio often picked her for their team down at the Playground because she could hit like ‘the Babe’ – Mom was a lefty, too. Dorothy went on to graduate from Galileo High School and then start her working career. One of her first jobs was for the US Army in the Presidio in the World War II effort. She loved her music and always up to go to the outdoor dances at the Russian River – where one enchanted evening- met the love of her life – Gino Cerri. They soon married and settled down on Russian Hill to start a life and family together. They first had their daughter – Jean, and then their son – Richard. Dorothy put her career aside and put her family first raising the children, helping Dad with the books for his upholstery shop and as time allowed or unexpected guests necessitated perfecting her legendary sugo, manicotti and double chocolate cake. She was one of the mothers helping out in the cafeteria at Saints Peter and Paul when her children were in their school years. Once the kids were old enough, she went back to work – for her beloved Bank of America working in their stock transfer department. In her retirement – she loved to work in the garden and come up smelling like rosemary; then every Thursday, she would hop on the 30 Stockton and venture from the Marina over to North Beach to meet her cronies at Victoria Pastry for caffe` and dolce. Sunday mornings found her out of the house at 8 am, walking to the bus stop to attend Mass at Sts. Peter and Paul – and of course always followed by a stroll up the Avenue for coffee before coming home. Dorothy is survived by her children – Jean (John) Wilkinson and Richard (Gayle) Cerri. She is the loving Nonni to Jason (Elvira) Wilkinson, Jonathan (Angelica) Wilkinson, and Jeno (Dionna) Wilkinson; and also the loving Bisnonna to Diana and Luca Wilkinson. The Family requests no flowers be sent, if you wish to send a donation in Dorothy’s name please consider- St Jude’s Children’s Hospital https://www.stjude.org/ or Save the Redwoods League https://www.savetheredwoods.org/ Services will be held at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Colma, CA on Friday 21 June, 2019 at 11:30am
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18