Doris Cecilia Bertolino

Doris passed away peacefully at the age of 95, surrounded by her family on February 23, 2025, the same day as her wedding anniversary. She was born on April 11, 1929 to Albert and Cecilia Hope and was the oldest of five children. Doris spent 65 years happily married to our dad, Carmen (Bud) Bertolino and had three children: Carmen (Buddy), Michael and Christine.

Sadly, Doris was only 5 years old when she lost her little brother. She was only 12 when her mother died of tuberculosis. Her loving Mom Mom raised her until she also passed seven years later. 

Doris attended Visitation BVM school for 8 years and St. Boniface Business School, where she excelled at typing and shorthand, securing a position as a stenographer after graduation. Later, she worked in the offices of Sears. In more recent years, she worked beside family and friends at Promotional Printing in the bindery department. She and our dad enjoyed many fun vacations, including Atlantic City, New York (honeymoon), Las Vegas, San Diego, New Orleans, Mexico, and 5 trips to the Bahamas to name a few. 

Doris had the opportunity to see several celebrities in her life including: Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, Dolly Parton, Joan Rivers, Liberace, Tom Jones, Siegfried and Roy, Jimmy Dean, and Tiger Woods (as a child).

She never sought attention and often shied away from the camera. She was a very caring and loving mother who liked to sing and harmonize with our dad as he played guitar. Her memory was sharp and she retold many interesting stories of her amazing life. She truly cared about others and their well-being, mentioning them in her prayers at night. 

Doris loved her nine grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren and everyone in our extended family. She enjoyed going to the casino with our dad, and we continued taking her until last month. 

Doris liked to look nice every day, with nails painted and lipstick applied. She spent summer days listening to music from her favorite artists on the deck at her son’s house where she has lived since our father’s passing. 

Doris is survived by her loving son Carmen “Buddy” (Patricia Bertolino) and Christine Belcher (Steven Belcher) and her sister, Patricia Burns and sister-in-law Rose Meehan. She is predeceased by her loving husband, our beloved brother Michael, her brothers Raymond, Robert and Richard Hope, and many others. 

There will be a small, private service held for family members.