Raymond Jack Bertolucci, passed away after a very brief battle with cancer. Ray married Janice, his high school sweetheart in 1964 in Napa, and in 1967, they adopted their only child, Ana Maria. Ray and Janice lived the past 35 years in the Sacramento area, primarily Elk Grove.
Ray worked in the computer industry his entire career, starting Miller Freeman Publishing, the airline industry, County of Napa, Hewlett Packard, and others, before retiring in 2006. Ray loved spending time with his family and friends, telling stories, enjoying nice meals, drinking red wine, and sharing laughs. After spending time with his family, his second greatest past-time was fishing. He loved fishing but what he loved most about it was the time together with his best friends (Bob Benning and Dan Erwin), daughter, son-in-law, and anyone who wanted to join him. While waiting for the fish to bite, he could play a mean game of cribbage and pinochle and most people ended their day with less winnings than him – both in card bets and in fish.
He held long and special friendships with people that were very important to him and that enriched his life greatly. Years spent visiting friends’ homes, dinner parties, camping, trips, and just being together was one of his greatest joys. He loved to laugh and joke around with people. He could really dish it out but he could take it back just as well!
Ray and Janice enjoyed their retirement years traveling by RV across the western United States and Canada. They also enjoyed traveling to various states, Alaska, Mexico, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Europe, and Ray’s life-long dream to the island of Bora Bora. In between traveling, together with Janice he enjoyed attending plays, taking day trips to local wineries and places, and going on scenic drives. Ray adored and cherished his family. Janice, Ana, Gord, and Jackson were his entire world, and for them, his generosity and selflessness knew no limit.
Ray spent the last two weeks of his life receiving many messages of love from family and friends, reminiscing about family memories, enjoying the spring weather in the backyard, planting flowers, and receiving love and care from Janice, Ana, Gord, and Jackson.
Ray is survived by his wife Janice of 57 years; daughter, Ana, son-in-law, Gord Pedlar, grandson Jackson Pedlar; brother, Dennis Bertolucci (wife Liz); pre-deceased sister, Lynette Gore; nephews, Steven Bertolucci, Jim Gann and family; and nieces, Stephanie Thompson and family, Nikki Grimshaw and family, Michelle Ebaugh and family, Jessica Frank and family, many cousins, "little brother" Ken Graham (and family) and all of his closest friends who were like family to him.
Per Ray’s wishes, no formal service will be held. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the American Cancer Society.
_______________________________________________________________________
Death is nothing at all.
I have only slipped away into the next room
I am I and you are you
Whatever we were to each other
That we are still
Call me by my old familiar name
Speak to me in the easy way you always used to
Put no difference into your tone
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow
Laugh as we always laughed
At the little jokes we always enjoyed together
Play, smile, think of me,
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was
Let it be spoken without effort
Without the ghost of a shadow in it
Life means all that it ever meant
It is the same as it ever was
There is absolute unbroken continuity
What is death but a negligible accident?
Why should I be out of mind
Because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you for an interval
Somewhere very near
Just around the corner
All is well.
Nothing is past; nothing is lost
One brief moment and all will be as it was before
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!
- Canon Henry Scott-Holland