Dorothy “Dolly” Domenichelli, age 95, died peacefully Tuesday, August 14, 2018 in Camino, CA.
Survived by her children Bill (Patty); Ray (Linda); Joe (Kris); Tom Domenichelli; Valerie McIntosh (Scott); Gina Illingworth (Jeff); daughter-in-law Carolyn Domenichelli; her grandchildren Dan, Danielle, Matt, Jessica, Mark, Kayleigh, Deanna, John Domenichelli; Netti Gregoire (Brent); Andi Rosales (Tony); Carrie Zanolini; Kathy Marzullo (Dylan); Kristina Miller (Mark); Erik, Amy Nellessen; Stephanie Setzer (Garrett); Rachel Hansen (Ken); Rebekah Valles (Ray); Mary Maskell (Bill) and 15 great-grandchildren. Predeceased by her husband Eugene, brothers Joe and Emil Chelini, sisters Anita Hicken, Julia Repetto, Rita Odella and Rosalie Gibson, son Stan and daughter Reneé Domenichelli, grandson Samuel Domenichelli and great-grandson William Landrum, Jr.
Dolly was born in Sonoma, CA to Americo and Dorotea (Zampa) Chelini. She was raised in Sonoma and graduated from Sonoma Valley High School. In 1944, she and Gene married in Jacksonville, FL while he was in the US Marine Corps. After the war, they returned to Sonoma, started their family and built a masonry construction business. In 1960, they bought a prune ranch in Healdsburg, CA. While Dolly was raising their eight children, she helped with their masonry company and ran the ranch household. She was her children’s best cheerleader as they were active in sports. She attended most games, and those of their grandchildren, and was quite vocal if she felt the officials weren’t calling a good game.
For much of their lives together, Dolly and Gene were connected through music. He played the accordion throughout high school, and often he played in the band while Dolly danced to his music. During breaks, Dolly taught Gene how to dance, and they continued that love of music and dancing by attending as many dances as they could over the years. In later years, when she could no longer dance, she enjoyed singing. Friends and family were always welcome in their home and Dolly made sure there was plenty to eat and then some. She often had a ham in the pantry, just in case. She worked most elections as a poll worker using her home as a precinct or working wherever the Elections Board needed help. She was a parishioner at St. John’s Catholic Church and a member of the Young Ladies Institute (YLI) and Italian Catholic Federation (ICF). After her children were raised, she enjoyed watercolor painting. She loved painting flowers, wildlife, and landscapes. After they retired, Dolly would go with Gene to Tayman Park in Healdsburg where she would critique his golf swing; they were married almost 70 years.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Dolly’s memory to the Healdsburg Center for the Arts (www.healdsburgcenterforthearts.org), the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org) or to your favorite charity. Funeral services will be held at St. John’s Catholic Church in Healdsburg on Friday, August 24 at 1 p.m. Reception to follow at St. John’s School Gymnasium. A rosary will be held at the Church from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, August 23.
