Hilda C. Bertotti

Hilda Marie Casanave Bertotti, 91, passed away peacefully October 5, 2024 surrounded by her loving family.

 Hilda had a long life filled with faith and family. She was born in Altoona, PA, to the late Nicholas J. and Mary Hilda (Holland) Casanave. She walked up the street to elementary school at Altoona’s Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, and she attended Mt. Aloysious Academy (Catholic boarding school for girls) where she was an altar server (since there were no boys!) and hand-maid. She earned her BS in Chemistry from Chestnut Hill College in 1955; she was employed by E.I. DuPont as a chemist, where she met Richard (Dick) Bertotti whom she would later marry. Although she lost her father when she was around age four, her mother, siblings and cousins spent many happy summer days at their farm outside the city or playing in the “big back yard” behind the house in the city.

 After their wedding in Woodbury, NJ, they packed up for their honeymoon drive to Madison, TN, where Dick had been living since his transfer to DuPont’s Old Hickory plant. They soon found their forever home “out in the boondocks” in Hendersonville where they raised their ten children, spent days on the lake boating, fishing, and water-skiing. Hilda attended St. Joseph Church where her children would later attend elementary school, and then became a founding member of Our Lady of the Lake in Hendersonville where she served her Lord and her community through the Women’s Club, original nursery (to which Fr. Arnold “volunteered” her), and bereavement committee. She was the mother of not only her 10 children but also to any child who needed her or wanted her (family friends, kids at church, volunteering at St. Joseph, and more.) She carpooled kids to school, girl scouts, and soccer. When her children were a little older, she enjoyed golfing at Old Hickory Country Club with the ladies 9 hole group and bowling in the OLOL church league. She cherished her sons- and daughters-in law, saying often how fortunate she was to have them as her own.

 Her grandchildren meant the world to her. “Mom-mom” fixed them the best scrambled eggs, took the older ones to Old Hickory Country Club for golf lessons and swim lessons (and Steak n Shake afterwards!), playing with little paper dolls, baby dolls, trains, Curious George paper boats, staying overnight to get up early and look at the stars and planets through a telescope (and partying during the eclipse of 2017!), or providing reams of paper, rolls of tape and stapler for art work. She supported their baseball and soccer teams, even if she couldn’t attend. She knew what everyone liked and didn’t like for Sunday dinner and invited them into a crowded kitchen to make Christmas cookies, sticky buns, or homemade pizza crust! The refrigerator was covered with magnetic letters, pictures, cards, and the Bertotti calendar. And Sunday dinners (and holidays!!) at Mom-mom’s were filled with people, noise, and activity (and maybe followed by a boat ride!)

 Hilda was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Jack (Rita) Casanave, sisters Mary Louise (Ralph) Gipprich, and Elizabeth (Wally) Dixon. She is survived by her cherished husband, Dick Bertotti; ten children: John (Dawn) Bertotti, Babs (Mike) Rector, Sue (Fran) Varboncoeur, Mary (Darin) Littrell, Carol Bertotti, Patty (John) Lane, Danny (Robin) Bertotti, Mike (Katie) Bertotti, Jamie (Michelle) Bertotti, Bobby (Kendra) Bertotti; fourteen grandchildren: Alex Varboncoeur, Ashley (Fletcher) Griffitts, Mackenzie (Thomas) Cocke, Timothy Littrell, Madison Lane, Morgan Lane, Bryce Bertotti, Taylor Bertotti, Ryan Bertotti, Justin Varboncoeur Sydney Bertotti, Myles Bertotti, Nora Bertotti, Charlie Bertotti; cousins Jack Holland and Ann (Andy) Slodysko; nephews Nick (Barb) Dixon, Steve (Rose) Dixon, Rich (Carol) Dixon, John Casanave, Eric (Jen) Casanave; and great-nieces and nephews.

 She was truly the epitome of love in action, and her kind spirit was a blessing to all who knew her! If there’s ever been a person who has been ready at any time to meet her Maker, it’s Hilda, who for a long time has been affectionately (and sometimes sarcastically) known as Saint Hilda. And of course she was a “saint” for raising 10 children who loved her deeply. To know her was to love her! I know Jesus was there to welcome her- “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

In lieu of flowers:

St. Joseph School Tuition Fund (scroll to tuition assistance)

https://osvhub.com/saintjosephchurchnashville/giving/funds

OLOL Haiti twin parish school, St. Bertin

https://secure.myvanco.com/L-Z9MB/campaign/C-13K1F