Matilda Mahoney

Tilda ?Tillie? (Dondero) Mahoney (June 14, 1923 ? January 9, 2011) Our beautiful mother, Tillie, passed away suddenly in San Francisco. Beloved wife of Daniel M. Mahoney, her dear late husband; cherished daughter-in-law of our ?Nana,? Mary E. (Denis) O?Mahoney; devoted mother of Patricia Mahoney, David (Brenda) Mahoney and Kevin Mahoney; and loving and proud ?Grandma? to Danielle Mahoney and Ryan Mahoney. She was a loving sister-in-law to Denis (Margaret) Mahoney, Michael (Florence) O?Mahoney and Mary Ellen (Arnold) Gonzales. Dearest aunt to her nephews and nieces; dear and constant friend to many wonderful friends. Mom is in heaven now with her beloved mother and father, Linda (Ghiotto) and Luigi Dondero; her brothers, John (Vivian) Dondero and Leo (Stella) Dondero, and her sister, Anna (Paul) Cavagnaro, with whom she shared a life-long, close relationship. Tillie was a native San Franciscan born to Genovese immigrant parents, a life-long Mission district resident who grew up during a time when the Mission was mostly Irish and Italian and she could walk home safely after attending an Italian dance at the Genoa Club. When she was five, she sailed to Genoa with her mother and brother, Leo, astounding the ship?s waiter by enjoying five orders of risotto during one meal! She was a graduate of Hawthorne School, Horace Mann Junior High School and the Mission High School Class of 1941, where she was a Commercial major and held the office of Recording Secretary. Mom?s first job was with the Bank of America; after years of being a great homemaker, she enjoyed part-time employment at the San Francisco Furniture Mart. She spent many happy years cheering on the thoroughbreds at Bay Meadows (Go Baby Go!)? and was elated when her baseball team finally won the World Series (Go Giants!). Mom loved to laugh, dance the Italian polka and waltz, and showed us how to have fun. She was the life of the party and always there for her children and family. We will miss her smile and happy zest for life. Riposa in pace, cara mamma. Friends may visit Thursday after 3:00PM and are invited to attend the Vigil Service also on Thursday at 7:00PM all at the chapels of Valente Marini Perata & Co., 4840 Mission St., SF, 94112. A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated on Friday at 10:00AM at Immaculate Conception Chapel, 3255 Folsom St., SF, followed by the Committal Service at the Italian Cemetery in Colma. Donations in Tillie?s memory may be made to your favorite charity.

Matilda Mahoney

June 14, 1923 - January 9, 2011