Lois Corinne Cerruti

1927 - 2023

Lois Corinne Cerruti passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, October 15, 2023 at age 96. Born in Kenosha, Wisconsin on March 12, 1927 to Italian-born father James August Constanti and "Finn-Swede" American Esther Matilda Ingeborg Johnson, Lois spent idyllic childhood winters building snowmen and igloos and ice skating to school and on Lake Michigan. In her early teens her father was transferred due to the war effort, and she moved west with her parents and younger brother Jimmy to Burlingame, California.
Lois met her first husband, Berkeley native Gerald Larkey Pixley, in the San Mateo Junior College bookstore, where they learned they shared the same birthday. Her lifelong interest in the English language and passion for writing and journalism were nurtured during that chapter of her life. After marrying and Jerry's completion of his Engineering studies at UC Berkeley, they raised their four daughters in Orinda, where they played tennis and golf and socialized at the Orinda Country Club and on Sundays worshiped at Santa Maria Church. Lois was also a longtime member of the Orinda Valley Garden Club. She especially appreciated family music sessions when Jerry sang and played guitar and her father played the banjo. The family looked forward to their annual summer vacations at her parents' rustic Lake Tahoe cabin.
In the late 60s Lois married William Patrick "Bill/Mac" Macaskill, and they moved to Gilroy with their toddler daughter Anne Marie ("Annie") and Lois's two youngest daughters, Shauna and Caroline. During those years her life in the country included riding horses, taking care of various farm animals, raising rabbits, figuring out how to incorporate her husband's endless supply of venison in family menus, working in a large vegetable garden, listening to classical music, participating in Women in Touch and Bible Study Fellowship, and leading Al-Anon and other therapeutic support groups for over a decade. Together she and Bill volunteered for many years at RotaCare, a free healthcare clinic.
Lois was married to her third husband, Leland Castle "Lee" Cerruti, a little more than a year after a blind date at Gayle's Bakery in Capitola (that nearly went awry because they arrived through opposite ends of the building and almost missed one another) set up by her daughter Shauna and a friend of one of Lee's daughters. For the past thirteen years they have enjoyed each other's company living on the rural property with their Goldendoodle, Dasher. She and Lee embarked on many trips to favorite areas up and down the California coast and inland at his longtime fishing spot outside Sonora. Attending Catholic Mass at Mission San Juan Bautista was an important part of their weekly routine.
A lifelong reader, avid home cook (and Adelle Davis fan), gardener, and enthusiastic traveler, Lois was always game for any outing, vacation, adventurous restaurant meal, or cultural performance, and all family gatherings. During her lifetime she enjoyed making jams and conserves, painting, tennis, water and snow skiing, hiking, bicycling and swim exercise classes. Hiking and bicycling trips in Europe with either sister-in-law Barbara or dear friend Tudy were especially memorable, as was her jaunt with a friend and 300K others across the Golden Gate Bridge on its 50th anniversary.
Lois regularly expressed how much she loved her children and grandchildren. Her daughters especially appreciated her sense of humor (and even occasional irreverence) and unwavering qualities of compassion, forgiveness, gratitude and optimism (the latter, even in the face of adversity). She was very deeply loved by her family and will be dearly missed by all.
Lois is survived by her husband Lee Cerruti and her five daughters; Pamela Windle, Jane Zuercher (Mark), Shauna Lynch (Scott), Caroline Pixley, and Annie Reale (Basil), grandchildren; Katie McDermid (Steve), Sara Harden (Will), Benjie Zuercher, Hayley Zuercher, Nathan Lynch (Kim), Abbey Lynch, and Mateo Reale, and great-grandchildren; Sydney McDermid, Malcolm McDermid, and William Lewis "Liam" Harden V (who was born in July and was able to meet his great-grandmother). She is also survived by former son-in-law Timothy Windle and his wife Anne Marie. In addition, she is survived by her nephews Jay Constanti and Charles Constanti and nieces Debbie Williams and Karen Higgins. Lois is also survived by her husband Lee's children; daughters Penny Michael, Bonnie Erickson, and Mary Hart and Cerruti sons Chris, Patrick, Keith, Mike and Kevin, and by Bill's children; Patricia Clavio, Mary Cannon, and David Macaskill. She is predeceased by her two previous husbands, brother James Gunnard "Jimmy" Constanti, sister-in-law Barbara Ghiglione, and stepson William "Billy" Macaskill.
Our family is grateful to Maria, Diana and Rosie, Lois's patient and loving caregivers during the last seven months of her life. And to daughter Shauna, our family's "Mother Teresa," who in addition to husband Lee, was a constant, selfless presence, especially during these past several years of declining health.
In lieu of flowers, donations or tributes may be made in honor of Lois to charities or organizations of your choice.
Friends and family are invited to join for Rosary and Mass on Saturday, October 28, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. at St. Mary Parish, 11 1st St. A reception will follow.