Paola Morettoni Caballero
“I’m Roman! I was born in Rome, and baptized in St. Peter’s! My certificate is signed by the pope,” Paola would proudly declare to all. While born in Rome, Italy on May 25, 1938, her parents, Marcella Bagaloni and Odoardo Morettoni (who went by “Eduardo”), emigrated the family from war-torn Italy to Venezuela with her pesky, but fiercely-loved little sister, Giuliana, in search of a better life in 1947. They ate only lentils for a month, sold her bike for rent, and yet laughed often and had ice cream once a week. Paola admired the resolve, courage and ingenuity of her parents. Living through WWII and being an immigrant, taught her to be practical, think creatively, appreciate simple pleasures, and most importantly – you will always feel rich when you’re surrounded by love.
Her mother was her first best friend and lifelong confidant. Even in old age, her eyes would well up at her name. Paola learned to cook magnificently from Marcella, a self-trained chef, whose Roman trattoria-style dishes made Odoardo’s many restaurants renowned in Caracas, Venezuela and later San Francisco, CA. Paola grew up in those kitchens, learning from her mother, both life lessons and recipes. While Paola’s cooking, tarts and cakes were legendary, she always said her mother’s were even better.
Paola made her mark everywhere she went. She loved sports, extracurriculars, and had a knack for language. She studied journalism in college. She was a champion for equity. In 1965 she helped found the first women’s social club at a Venezuelan oil company. The all-male board originally rejected their petition. So the women organized, ran for board positions, and ousted the men. Finally women had a place for themselves to shoot pool, have drinks and socialize.
She always nurtured her friendships, regularly talking to her oldest high school best friend from Venezuela, Gisela Dittman, as well as Lucy Alió, and Pilar Faria. When she moved to San Francisco, CA in 1967, she was the star of a Spanish-speaking theater group in the Mission District with her first SF friend, Isabel Heredia. She loved the city and her community of dear friends including Maria Teresa and Ray Ponce, Patricia Frank, Ana Horta and another gem, Ellinor Haggedorn. She always said, “You’ve got to be there for your real friends in life.”
Paola met Alberto Caballero at CitiBank in San Francisco, CA in 1973. After a persistent and measured courtship by him, she realized the two shared common values, and that he was a good man. On February 2,1975, they got married. After losing their first child, Angel Caballero, at birth, she courageously tried again and she gave birth to Eduardo Alberto Caballero on April 26, 1977. Two years later they bought their cherished home in the Sunset District, and meticulously filed it with antiques and artisan mementos from their travels.
She poured her soul into Eduardo and into being a good mother. She left her bank job to work in Eduardo’s Gourmet Pasta factory, the family business which offered more flexibility. It was back-breaking, knee-breaking work, but she did it so that she could be there for her son. Once Odoardo retired, she took over the factory, and determinately decreased costs, maintained quality, and increased sales, making it more successful than it had been in years.
Paola kept the bonds of extended family strong. She hosted the Halasz & Cruz family for special events and on her favorite holidays, Christmas & New Year’s Day. She contacted her Italian Castelluci, San Marini, DiTrapano, Schiavone, D’Aprile, Santelli, Sammarini, Mancini, and Morettoni aunts, cousins and their kids regularly. Through Covid, she joined weekly Italian family Zoom calls every Thursday until the day before she passed. She became family to Alberto’s family in Bogotá, and adopted Colombia as another homeland. She cherished her time with her Caballero and Aponte relatives, and collecting “artesanias” during their annual summer visits. She loved and appreciated her daughter-in-law, Michelle Minori, for her authenticity, her patience with Eduardo, and her wonderful Lodi family.
After retirement, she enjoyed gardening, art, jewelry making, succulent bowl designing, and volunteering. Until her knees gave out, she volunteered distributing clothes at St. Vincent de Paul. She met her youngest best friend, Maria Wenner, at the American Cancer Discovery Store in the early 2000’s. Their Friday estate sales, thrift store shopping or movie watching were sacred. Not even her only beloved son could interrupt them. It was on July 28, 2023 during one of these Friday outings, filled with her indomitable laugh, that she was called to join her mother, father, and dearly departed.
Paola was an incredible daughter, sister, aunt, friend, wife and mother. She was always one to tell it like it is, but with love and compassion. She was an instigator, a critical thinker, a challenger of norms, a nurturer, and a passionate lover of life. She laughed at her own jokes as hard as those of others. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her. Her spirit is still strong inside us all. She always said, “In life you can choose to laugh or to cry. I choose to laugh.”
She is smiling, laughing and loving us all, today and forever.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the following organizations in her memory.
