Obituary of Victoria Mary Dutra

Of Alameda, CA, passed away peacefully on January 7th , 2014. She was 97. Her spirit is carried on by her two children, four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and an extended family of relations and friends from every walk of life who will miss her amazing smile, her fabulous potato salad and fried chicken, her wonderful laugh, her kindness and most of all, her wisdom. Victoria (Vicki to most, Grandma to all) was loved by everyone who met her. She was born in San Luis Obispo County on July 29th, 1916 to parents Rosa Brazil Santos and Joseph Santos. On August 1st, 1935 she married the love of her life, Frank J. Dutra in San Luis Obispo, then moved to Santa Barbara in 1940 to raise her family. She was a member of Y.L.I and worked for GTE where she manned the switchboards and waited for her grandchildren to keep dialing until they reached her just so they could share an after school chat. After retiring from GTE Vicki stayed active as a volunteer at Saint Francis Hospital from 1962 until it closed. After living in Santa Barbara for 70 years, in 2008 Vicki decided to move to Alameda CA to be closer to her daughter and grand children, and take care of her great grandchild. Her interests and loves included her family, her religion, gardening, cooking, baking, needlepoint, sewing, family vacations, shuttling her friends around (she drove into her 90's), Merv Griffin, Paul Harvey, watching Dancing with The Stars with her daughter, People Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, sharing stories, the Los Angeles Lakers (especially the Shaq years), making baby blankets for future generations ("bless their hearts") and her beloved Santa Barbara. She was a beautiful, strong, vibrant woman with tireless energy, virtue, generosity and dignity who will never be forgotten. Vicki is reunited with her husband, 3 brothers and grandson Michael in eternal life to travel the heavens and shine her light down upon her loving family. She is survived by her daughter Jeanne Morris of Alameda, CA and son Frank Dutra of Boise ID; granddaughters Amy Morris Gibbs of San Francisco, CA, Julie Morris Hughes of Alameda CA, Jennifer Dutra Hill of Martinez, CA, Grandson Scott Dutra of Boise ID; daughter-in-law Marilyn Dutra; great grandchildren Keegan, Ory and Allison Dutra of Boise ID; Samantha and Hannah Morris of Galt CA; great-grandson Ian Hughes of Alameda CA; granddaughter in law Barbara Dutra of Boise ID, grandson in laws Parker T Gibbs of San Francisco CA, Sean Hill of Martinez CA, Randy Hughes of Alameda, CA; nephews Leonard Santos of Aptos, CA, Melvin Santos of San Luis Obispo CA, and niece Linda Brown of San Luis Obispo, CA. Memorial services are to be held on January 30th at 10am at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 21 East Sola Street, Santa Barabara, CA. Burial is immediately following the mass at Calvary Cemetery.