Lucille Lynn Botelho Ross, 93 of Salinas passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 4, 2008 at Community Hospital of Monterey Peninsula with her family by her side.
The oldest of five children, Lucille Lynn was born at home on October 4, 1914 in Tennessee. As a teenager, Lucille moved to San Benito County where she graduated from Hollister High School and San Benito County Jr. College. In 1942, Lucille married Manuel Botelho and raised a family of 5 children on the Olympia Road Ranch between San Juan Bautista and Hollister. They later moved the family to Salinas in 1961. In 1971, Manuel tragically died in an automobile accident.
In 1981, Lucille met and married John Ross. The couple, who lived in Rancho Cucamonga and later Salinas, had many enjoyable years together-much of it spent traveling. This continued until John’s death in 1996.
As a young girl living on a farm, Lucille became tough and independent. These characteristics were tempered with her down-to-earth sense of hard work, honesty and most of all humor. Of course, her practical nature would frown upon a lengthy and overly-glowing obituary.
Although she enjoyed golf, gardening, politics and reading, Lucille’s true passion and focus was always her 4-generation family.
She is survived by her sister, Eloise (Don) Beresini of Hollister; daughters, Joan (Jim) Scattini of Salinas, Bernadette (Paul) Nelson of Fallon, NV, Mary Ann (Mark) Verutti of Davis; sons, Mark (Martha) Botelho of Salinas and Greg (Teri) Botelho of Bloomington, IN; step-daughters, Kathy (Jack) Martin of Indio and Jane (Bill) Tangeman of Irvine; 19 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; eight step-great-grandchildren
Lucille was preceded in death by her husbands, Manuel Botelho and John P. Ross; sisters, Darlene Delappe, and Katrina Beresini; and brother, Ralph Lynn.
Visitation will be held from 1:00pm to 5:00 P.M. on Monday, September 8, 2008 at Struve & Laporte Funeral Chapel, 41 West San Luis Street, Salinas, CA 93901.
Vigil will be held will be held at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, September 8, 2008 at Struve & Laporte.
Funeral Mass will be held at 12:00 P.M. on Tuesday, September 9, 2008 at Mission San Juan Bautista, 406 2nd Street, San Juan Bautista, CA 95045.
Burial will take place at the San Juan Bautista Cemetery.
Memorial donations can be made to the Special Olympics, 620 Lighthouse Avenue, Suite 110, Pacific Grove, CA 93950 or donor’s favorite charity.
Online Condolences: www.struveandlaporte.com
