Jennie Elenora Casale

Jennie Berrafato-Casale

Born May 10, 1924 ~ went to be with the Lord on June 18, 2017 ~ age 93.

Jennie Berrafato-Casale, "Bear," as her friends called her growing up, was gifted with a courageous and gracious heart! She was the youngest of six children and lost her mother at only age two. It was during the depression and very challenging for her father to raise six children alone. Consequently, he placed his youngest three children in a Catholic Orphanage in Chicago, Illinois. Her years growing up were not the best by any means, but she always made the most out of every moment!  Until the day she passed, she was always very thankful, caring and kind! Jennie loved her family so much, and was very much blessed by their love and care for her!  She was such an extremely bright and optimistic person!

Jenny was a hard working student and excelled in school, but sadly, her father died when she was only 14. Afterwards, she and her sister Josephine moved home from the orphanage to cook for their older brothers as they worked to support each other.  Jennie always wanted to become a PE teacher and coach, but she didn’t have the support needed at that time.

Later, she met the love of her life, our father, Phillip Frank Casale. They married in 1948 when she was 24. Together they raised two children, Debbie Casale-Perrault of Grover Beach, CA, married to Robert Perrault; and Carole Casale-Romanowitz of Gardnerville, NV, married to Bill Romanowitz.  They had six grandchildren:  Gina and Phillip Perrault; Natalee, Chris, Adriana, and Matthew Romanowitz; and five great grandchildren:  Felicia Ortega-Perrault, Alyssa Perrault, Austin Perrault-Troia, Dominik and Jackson Romanowitz-Scarpulla.

Jennie was an avid reader, loved Jeopardy and board games, and she also loved sports and was beyond her years in knowledge about healthful living!  She was known for her awesome homemade Italian chicken soup, and made it for anyone who was sick.  She only believed in taking vitamins and eating natural, healthy foods, not medication!  She had many home remedies to help others feel their best when they were under the weather! Her girls remember watching and exercising to Jack-La-Laine on TV with her, and always swimming and playing baseball, tennis, badminton, volleyball, and ping pong with her and their father.  In addition, she worked for many years as a secretary for a chiropractic office.

Jennie was also very artistic and could sketch portraits of people and scenery beautifully!  During her school years, she was an active member of the swim team, synchronized swim team, dive team, softball league, and a TA for PE classes. At age 91, she could still hit a baseball farther than anyone we knew, and it was very hard for anyone, young or old, to beat her at a game of Ping Pong! 

Jennie and Phil loved the beach and Lake Tahoe, and often took their family on camping trips.  It was their dream to retire in Lake Tahoe from Simi Valley, CA; and that is what they did! In 1988, they moved to South Lake Tahoe, CA and rented an apartment until they could get their permit to build their home on the two lots they had purchased. However, obtaining a building permit wasn’t easy. In fact, it took son-in-law Bill waiting in line, outside, overnight in snowy, winter conditions to finally obtain the permit!  In 1990, their dream came true, and they built their beautiful dream home in South Lake Tahoe! Tahoe was their heaven on earth; they hiked and walked together for miles each day, and shared many holidays at their home with family, grandkids, and friends.

After 21 years in South Lake Tahoe, CA, Mom and Dad ventured to Grand Avenue ( not the Grand Avenue of their youth in Chicago, Illinois, but Grand Avenue in Grover Beach, CA) to live with Deb, Bob and family in 2009. Jennie loved being 16 blocks from the ocean; walking on the beach boardwalk at least three times a week; watching spectacular sunsets from her perfectly situated living room couch; playing Bocce at Baileyanna Winery; putting on the Green at Pismo Beach Golf Course; enjoying delicious clam chowder at Fins; cheering and sneering at the Great American Melodrama; family dinners with a “Salute!” toast with her favorite (whatever was showcased that evening) chardonnay; watching fireworks from the rooftop; beating everyone at Bunko; and of course, going to the movies! As you might guess, Jennie’s enthusiasm for FUN, effervescent spirit, and sparkling eyes immediately put everyone at ease and opened the flood gates for various engaging conversations!  Whether sitting on her favorite bench on the boardwalk, squeezing produce at the market or standing in line anywhere, Jennie was always happy to share life experiences with everyone!  Jennie exuded joy; laughter and hugs always accompanied her and delighted all who knew her! 

Thank you, Mom for your legacy of love, family traditions, joy, warm hospitality, and especially,  dark chocolate, wine, biscotti and butter pecan ice cream! We love you forever and always, and celebrate you to the “moon and the stars, beyond Jupiter and Mars!”

If you knew Jennie Casale, and would like to make a donation in her name, please do so to Austin's House, in Minden, NV.  Like Jennie when she was placed in an orphanage at a very young age, children placed at Austin's House also need help and a loving, supportive home! 

http://austinshouse.org/contribution.asp 

or mail a check to:

Austin's House
P.O. Box 784
Minden, NV 89423

Call 775-267-6711 M-F between 10-4 to arrange to drop off a donation, or to donate using your Visa or Master Card without using PayPal.

Also, for the past year, the Angels of Dignity Health Hospice provided loving physical comfort, as well as, emotional support for Jennie and our family.  A special team of doctors, nurses, dieticians, home health aides, homemakers, social workers and chaplain worked together to provide the most professional care for Jennie and total confidence and peace of mind for our family throughout this end of life journey! To make a donation, please contact:

Dignity Health Hospice

124 South College Drive

Santa Maria, CA 93454

805-739-3830

Toll Free:  800-549-9609

www.dignityhealth.org

In Loving Memory of our very special Mother~

Carole Romanowitz and Debbie Perrault & Families

 Service Information