Gloria Lavelle Gotti

February 3, 1932 - November 11, 2022

Gloria Lavelle Gotti - mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and beloved wife of Rolando for 72 years - passed away on November 11, 2022 in her Ross home surrounded by her loving family.

Gloria was born in Klamath Falls, Oregon in 1932 to Alice and Harry Hazlett before moving to San Francisco with her mother where she met her future husband, Rolando, who she married in 1950 at the Carmel Mission in Carmel, CA. In 1956, Gloria and Rolando moved to Marin County where they raised their six children. When they had the opportunity, Gloria and Rolando enjoyed adventurous travels and cruises through Italy, France, England, and Greece.

Gloria was gifted with many talents and interests, known for having a free, inquisitive, and independent spirit. She was creative and appreciated beauty in all things: nature, art, architecture, furniture, and jewelry. She spent much of her life seeking a deeper understanding of spirituality and had a rich curiosity about the human condition.

Gloria’s adventures and accomplishments began with modeling, interior design work, and the study of Catholicism, Buddhism, Zen, Yoga Nidra, and Scientology. Some of her most notable interior design accomplishments in the 70’s and 80’s were of the family restaurants: Lark Creek Inn, Scoma’s of Sausalito, and aspects of Ernie’s Restaurant in San Francisco. During this period, Gloria was selected several times to participate in the Marin Designer’s Showcase.

Through forty years of teaching, she shared her knowledge of the Alexander Method of Neuromuscular re-education and Ilse Middendorf’s breathing science to help people find relief from pain and improve their quality of life.

Her family remembers her as having a passion for the written word, theory, philosophy, and politics. Not a gathering was complete without Gloria eagerly discussing a recent author, idea, poem, or theory with her grandchildren.

Gloria Lavelle Gotti is survived by her loving husband, Rolando; her six children, Ronda, Roland (Maria), Carol, Cherie, Michael, and Diane; her five grandchildren, Zachary, Isabel (Simona), Colton, Kyler, and Rachel (Matt); and two great grandchildren Koda and Dezi.

Our family thanks the many people who have supported and cared for Gloria:

De, who has always been warm, patient, and supportive of our family and household for over 40 years.

Susan Renaud and Shiroko Sokitch, who provided incredible physical, emotional, and spiritual support to Gloria and were always available to take her calls and come to her side.

Her doctors, Marc Wexman and Anita Szady from Marin Cardiology, and Robert Belknap.

Krissy, Aurea, Tsingal and Right at Home caregivers, and Hospice staff at By the Bay Health for all the wonderful care Gloria received in the past year.

The family will hold a private Celebration of Life at Santa Sabina Center, where Gloria attended many IRest Meditation and Yoga Nidra retreats offered by Richard Miller, founder of IRest Institute.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Marin Hospice or Santa Sabina Center, San Rafael, CA.