Loretta Cavagnaro
Resident of Burlingame
Passed away peacefully at home on March 26, 2018. The daughter of Irish immigrants from County Mayo, Loretta was born on October 27, 1926 in Chicago and raised on the near north side not far from Wrigley Field. She was the second child of John and Mary Jordan Monahan of County Mayo, Ireland. Her Irish friends and relatives were the center of her early social life. She graduated from Immaculata High School and Mundelein College (now part of Loyola University of Chicago). Since her older sister, Betty, had entered the convent, Loretta was the first of her family to graduate from college. She came to California with friends and met her husband, Walter of Daly City, a young naval reserve officer and engineer. They were married in 1949 and were together as husband and wife and best friends until Walter’s death in 2011. She was a devoted Catholic, a member of St. Dunstan’s and Our Lady of Angels parishes, and was intensely proud of her Irish heritage.
Loretta and Walter were blessed with a close family and many friends. Loretta loved bridge dinner parties, outings with other couples, the ballet and symphony, and all the family gatherings.
Loretta was a math teaching assistant at Burlingame High School, a docent at St. Mary’s Cathedral, and a volunteer at Samaritan House in San Mateo where she and Walter were honored as Volunteers of the Year.
Loretta enjoyed traveling with family and friends around the world, including a trip to Ireland with her mother and sister, and often home to Chicago. Her interest in community and cultures and wonderful sense of humor accompanied her always.
She and Walter raised four children. She is survived by her brother, John “Jack” Monahan (Pat) of Chicago, her son, Francis (Nancy Brewer) and grandson, John, by her son Ed (Barbara Goode), granddaughter Elizabeth (Scot Birmingham), greatgrandchildren, Mia, and Owen, her daughter, Mary (Bev Parish), and daughter, Jane Unger (Joe Nezwek), and granddaughters Erinn (Jonathan Jessop) and Claire. She was predeceased by her beloved grandson Matthew, the son of Ed and Barbara, her dear husband, Walter, her sister, Mary Elizabeth Monahan, who became Sister Mary Johnetta, BVM and her son-in-law Tim Unger.
The family thanks Annie Lehauli, Nurse Kerry Blunt, and all of Loretta’s caregivers for their compassionate care and loving friendship.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to Samaritan House of San Mateo.
A memorial service will be held on April 15 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Angels Church in Burlingame.