Dolores Barbara McGill

Dolores McGill died peacefully at the age of ninety-six with her rosary in hand, in Petaluma. Dolores was born July 8, 1925, in San Francisco to Stephen and Helen Volosing. Her brothers, Robert, and Donald predeceased her. She is survived by her children, Linda (Jim Fox), Mary (Tom Carter), and Daniel; also, her granddaughters Elizabeth and Catherine.

She is remembered for the love and pride she had in all three of her children, her grandchildren, and for members of her extended family. One of her greatest joys was taking care of her two granddaughters. She was known as the adventurous grandma who took them on all sorts of outdoor outings, their favorite adventure being camping. She had a contagious sense of humor and truly enjoyed sharing stories and laughing with all she met.

After graduating from Abraham Lincoln High School and San Francisco City College, she earned her private pilot’s license to overcome lifelong shyness. Not stopping there, she learned aerial stunts in an open-cockpit Stearman biplane, helped form a Women’s Flying Club, and even won 11th place in an air race. Here she made long-lasting friends and eventually met her future husband, the late Daniel G. McGill. For the love of flying, she worked as a “Stewardess” for United Airlines in the 21-seat DC-3 airplane. What a way to combat shyness!

Dolores quietly offered many generous acts of love and service, offering people opportunities for growth, success, and a sense of belonging. As Office

Coordinator in the Department of History at SF State University, she was an inspirational source of help and loved by the students who knew how hard she worked for their benefit. At St. John of God Parish in SF, she is remembered as “one of the most welcoming women there…” and with helping during community gatherings, as a lector, and Eucharistic Minister for hospitalized patients at UCSF.

Dolores was greatly appreciated for sharing her love of nature, hiking, and camping with two generations of extended family. When she moved to Nazareth House for assisted living, she shared her love of life by playing piano, accompanying a singer during in-house concerts, and indulging her passion for weeding their property. She loved to welcome new residents to help make their transition into the next chapter of their lives a bit easier.

Join us for her Celebration of Life Memorial Mass on Tue, Nov 30, 2020, 10:00 AM at St. Emydius Church, 286 Ashton Avenue, SF, CA 94112 with Fr. Bill Brady. In lieu of flowers please make a memorial donation to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org/800-272-3900 &/or offer an act of kindness.