Lucille S. Ferraro Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Lucille S. Ferraro February 4, 1928 – May 8, 2023 San Luis Obispo, California Lucille S. Ferraro (Lou), 95, of San Luis Obispo, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 8, 2023. Lou was born February 4, 1928, in San Luis Obispo to Enos and Cecelia (Lewis) Serpa. She attended Old Mission School and San Luis Obispo Junior High and Senior High Schools. As a teenager, she worked at both the Obispo and Fremont Theaters. After high school she worked at Camp Roberts as a telephone operator. Later, while working as a waitress in Reno, Nevada she met and married the love of her life, a Coast Guard sailor named Joseph Ferraro. An adventurous military life led to living in various places including Alaska, San Francisco, Bermuda, Tennessee and New York. When Joe retired in 1969, they returned to Lou's beloved San Luis Obispo and moved into her family home on Pismo Street. Lou then went to work for the Department of Social Services for 20 years. During their military years, Lou and Joe began square dancing, joining clubs wherever they were stationed. After retirement they increased their involvement in square dancing and soon added round dancing as well. They trained as cuers and in time became high level instructors, joining numerous square and round dance clubs throughout the Central Coast and Arizona. Eventually they purchased an RV, and with numerous friends, traveled all over the US and Canada teaching and dancing. Lou was the fourth of seven generations that have lived in San Luis Obispo and was very proud of her Portuguese heritage and her lineage in the Machado and Lewis families. She and Joe were very involved with the Portuguese community in San Luis Obispo and Edna, belonging to both the I.D.E.S and P.H.S.S. Lou was preceded in death by Joseph, her husband of 65 years, their son Joseph Jr. and his wife Sara, great-granddaughter Catherine Downey, son-in-law Steven Clifton and sisters Mary Rexwinkle and Dora Carpenter. Lou is survived by her daughters Linda (John) Alexander and Kathleen Clifton, grandsons Robert and Randall Downey, Matthew and Joshua Clifton and Aaron Ferraro, great- grandchildren Trey and JJ Downey, Asher, Jacob and Joseph Clifton, and Brittany and Ethan Ferraro, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Lou was a loving mother, caring grandmother and fun auntie. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her. Visitation for Lou will be held at Reis Family Mortuary on Monday, May 22, 2023, at 4pm with Vigil for the Deceased and Rosary to follow at 6pm. The funeral Mass will be held at Old Mission Catholic Church on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at 10am. Interment will follow at Old Mission Cemetery. Lou's family wishes to thank Karla, Cathy and the staff of Ingleside Assisted Living in Atascadero for the love and care they provided Lou, and to extend their deepest gratitude to Andrea (Andy) Christman, who for four years provided Lou with dedicated care and loving attention. In lieu of flowers, donations in Lou's name may be made to the Alzheimer's Association California Central Coast Chapter or Woods Humane Society.

Lucille S. Ferraro

February 4, 1928 - May 8, 2023