Bertie Louise DiPietro

November 11, 1928 in Cardin, Oklahoma, Bertie Jeffrey was born the 5th of 6 children to Alexander and Catherine Jeffrey. Both parents died before Bertie’s 13th birthday. The family then moved to San Francisco, California in the care of its two oldest siblings, Edna and Art. Bertie was forever grateful to her brother and sister for being there for her.

Bertie quickly fell in love with San Francisco and, several years later, with an Italian baseball player named Bob DiPietro. They married in 1951. It was a match made in heaven and lasted 61 years until Bob’s passing in 2012. Bob was regarded by most who knew him as a pretty funny guy. But he was always quick to admit that Bertie was the one person who could make him laugh whenever she felt the urge.

Bob’s baseball career took the couple across country and back – with seasons in Scranton, Louisville, Birmingham, San Diego, San Francisco and Portland – where the baseball game ended. Bertie and Bob started their next chapter with a move to Yakima in 1959. By then they were parents of two boys, Bobby and Mark. It was always family first for Bertie, but tennis and travel were tied for second. The Yakima Tennis Club was home away from home in the summers. And international trips with her good friend Dona Thompson and a number of others were treasured experiences.

Spare time was invested in crafting Tiffany styled stained glass lamp shades which became prized gifts of family and friends. She developed a passion for genealogy which was shared with her much loved sister, Helen. The two spent countless hours researching and travelling to help unravel the Jeffrey history.

Bertie lost her husband nearly five years ago. But she continued living independently with her beloved dog Mattie right up to her passing on July 26, 2017. Family gatherings provided the highlights of Bertie’s last years. She had a special fondness for her daughters-in-law, Sheryl and Marcy. And her pride bubbled over when speaking about her grandchildren, Kiley, Joe, Lexi and Paul. She was looking forward very much to the birth of her first great grandson, Bo, in October.

Although each of us is unique, with exclusive attributes only we can claim, when God hand-crafted Bertie he truly made one rare bird. We will miss her dearly.

Private interment was at Terrae Heights Memorial Park.

To celebrate the life of Bertie and share a memory visit www.keithandkeith.com.