Louise Marie Xavier

Louise Marie Dondero Xavier May 17, 1922 – February 25, 2017 Louise Marie Dondero Xavier, 94, was born to Italian immigrants, Luigi Dondero and Ester Maggioncalda Dondero in Tormey CA. She had five brothers and sisters: Victoria, the only one born in Italy, Henrietta, John, Alfred, and Lucille ('Dolly'). She attended Mt. Diablo High School in Concord and met the love of her life at a football game between Mt. Diablo and San Ramon High. She married the handsome football player, son of Portuguese immigrants, Walter Anthony Xavier of Danville on April 28, 1940, and they had 59 wonderful years together. In the 1980's they traveled to Italy and Portugal to find their roots. She is predeceased by her parents, all of her siblings, her husband, Walter, her first born son, Gary at 55, and her infant son, Richard David at 6 months (during WW II). Walter returned from the War, and they raised 4 multi-talented children: Gary (Josie) Xavier, Sharon (John) de Sousa, John Michael (Debbie) Xavier, and Jane (Gregory) Dougherty. She had 6 grandchildren: Anthony, Marc (Erica), Bettina, Gary (Eryn), Gunnery Sergeant John David (Abbie), and Olivia. She had 6 great grandchildren: Holden (Anne), Walter, Andrew, Noah, Elsie, and Samuel. And she had one great great grandchild, Croix, and many nieces and nephew, great nieces and nephews and cousins, both here and in Italy. They lived the first 30 years of their married life in Danville and Alamo where they owned Xavier's Shoe/General Store in Danville. She was a Homemaker 'Extraordinaire,' a fabulous Italian cook, and she loved singing in St. Isidore's Choir in Danville for over 20 years. After moving to Truckee to retire early, Walter bought E.D.'s Boot Shop in Sparks, Nevada which they ran for 29 years, repairing shoes for the stars from Ben Vereen to Dolly Parton. After the deaths of her son and husband, she moved back to the Bay Area to live with daughter Sharon and her husband John in Fremont. For the past 18 years, she sang in the Corpus Christi and Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Choirs and Deo Gloria Choir (including singing with Glenn Yarbrough), and sang with her daughter in San Jose Symphonic Choir which she joined at 80 years young. Together with the choirs, they traveled and sang in Carnegie Hall twice, the cathedrals of Washington DC, toured Italy and sang at St. Peter's in the Vatican for Pope John Paul II. It was a new chapter in her life, and she made many new friends through all her singing and involvement in Fremont. She was honored with a Paul Harris Fellow in the Niles Rotary. She was also the first Italian-American to be President of the PFSA (Portuguese Fraternal Society of America) Fremont Council #17. She entered quite suddenly into rest on Saturday, February 25, after breaking her hip last week and following hip surgery to repair the fracture, her heart just stopped, despite numerous attempts. She had a long and full life and leaves a legacy of love and progeny. She loved her family more than anything and was an inspiration to all who knew her. She will be sorely missed by many, many people. Services: Visitation: Sunday, March 5, 1 to 5 p.m. at Berge-Pappas-Smith Chapel of the Angels, 40842 Fremont Blvd. Fremont. Vigil Service at 3 p.m. Funeral Mass of Resurrection: Monday, March 6, 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 41933 Blacow Road, Fremont. Burial to follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 26320 Mission Blvd. Hayward. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to San Jose Symphonic Choir, 1100 Shasta Ave. San Jose CA 95126 or to the charity of your choice.