Obituary of Leonora Laticia Decandido Bohlmann

In Loving Memory LEONORA LATICIA DECANDIDO BOHLMANN MAY 2, 1921-DECEMBER 15, 2022 Nora “Mommio” Bohlmann of Happy Valley, passed away peacefully of natural causes at the age of 101, with her devoted family by her side. Nora was born to Leonardo and Augusta DeCandido in Astoria, Oregon. She attended Grant High School in Portland and upon graduating with honors, worked at Meier & Frank as an elevator operator where she proudly memorized all 12 floors with all items available on each floor. Several years later she could still “call out” each item available on every floor by memory. Always the cheerful singer, she recorded “On Blueberry Hill” for a local radio station and continued through her life singing classical standards from the 1930’s through the 1950’s to everyone’s delight! Nora was a devoted member of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church and was always helping others to the betterment of the Community. During a chance meeting at Harmony Point in 1940, Nora met her Eternally loving and devoted husband Walter “Daddio”, who called her “dimples” and “pumpkin” from day one. They were married on March 21, 1943. Walter sang a favorite Sinatra tune of Nora’s, “It Had To Be You” every night before bedtime until his passing in 2013. They had three children; Richard 1944 (Karen), Daniel 1948 (Sharie Jo), and Nancy Kay Greenidge 1956 (Timothy). In 1946, post WWII, “Mommio” drove her 1937 Ford over 1,000 miles with her baby “Dickie” in tow, over primitive roads to reunite with her loving Walter, an Army Air Corps Pilot Instructor, stationed in Southern California, at Riverside Airfield. The inseparable couple enjoyed over 35 World Cruises and many sunbreak retreats to their Palm Springs vacation home. A favorite cruise of hers was a Mediterranean tour to the Acropolis, and on to visit her relatives north of Venice where she received the “Keys to the City” and a “Royal” welcome home reception! On that cruise, Nora and Walter were upgraded to the Presidential Butler suite as a special surprise treat which she excitedly told everyone about for years after. As a prolific Crossword Puzzle, Jeopardy and Scrabble “QUEEN”, she was unbeatable and said it kept her mind sharp. She loved to entertain kids with puppet skits or at the beach “standing on her head” and relished relaxing poolside at Palm Springs with Auntie Bert Jemison. “Mommio” adamantly supported the 1950’s proclamation, “No you can’t have a BB Gun, you’ll shoot your eye out”!! She enjoyed life daily, serving as Cub Scout Den Mother and always doing her best, whether it be winning the Ladies Blitz Weinhard Brewery Golf Tournament, or the Frank and Dolly Sinatra Palm Springs “Sons of Italy” Spaghetti Sauce contest winner. She loved to tell the story that the five renowned professional chefs who lost the contest all asked her how she won. She responded, “Obviously, I had the best sauce”! Nora and Walter were invited in 1999 to a special luncheon hosted by President Clinton. When it was time for special photos with the President, Walter was nowhere to be found! “Mommio” said to President Bill, “I’m all alone I don’t know where my husband is” as to which Bill responded, in only his charming way, hugging “Mommio”, saying “you’re not alone now”!! CLICK! Another highlight of Mommio’s life was her recent renewal of her driver's license when she asked why it would expire so soon at 108 years old? She often let you know that if she wanted to, she could drive anytime, cook gourmet Italian dinner daily (except using a microwave) and yes, still stand on her head. Survivors include the previously noted three children and their wives. Six grandchildren; Trent (Bonnie), Melanie (Rob), Whitney (Nnamdi), Courtney (Julius), Kelly, and Brian (Jackie). Seven great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and countless friends all calling her “GG”, Great Grandma. She was proceeded in death by her parents, her husband, her sister Irene Gallucci, her brother William DeCandido and countless family and friends that she endearingly considered “family”. Nora attributed her longevity to eating a Mediterranean diet and living by the “Golden Rule”. Nora’s motto was, “Never cheat, lie or steal and be kind to everyone!” A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday December 30, 2022, at 11 AM at Sunnyside “Little Chapel of the Chimes”, 11669 SE Stevens Road, Happy Valley, Oregon; followed by a Formal Interment Ceremony at Willamette National Cemetary, where she will join Walter eternally together. “Mommio” will be singing in spirit “I’ll Be Seeing You in all the Old Familiar Places”. In lieu of flowers it is requested that contributions be made to Beautiful Saviour Lutheran Church, Portland, Oregon.