Jennifer Dawn Tollini Berg

Jennifer Dawn Tollini Berg, born February 1, 1964, in Ukiah, California, left this earth on May 8 at the age of 60, after over a four year battle with Triple Negative Breast Cancer that metastasized into her brain, lungs, and chest.  Because she knew what was coming, she wrote the following obituary.

 I was born to Henry “Hank” Tollini and Genevieve Ricetti Tollini, some 17 years after the  oldest of my 3 siblings. My mother referred to me as her “second crop”.  I grew up with a swimming pool and loved the water.  I was a lifeguard and swim instructor at the City Pool during my teenage years.  I graduated from Ukiah High School in 1982 with some of the best people I know.

 I went to Butte Community College before transferring to Chico State University.  I then earned my teaching credential and was fortunate to do my student teaching and land my first job at Frank Zeek Elementary School- the very school that I had attended grades K-6. I was embraced by a wonderful community of teachers.  Many of them have remained some of my truest friends (and surrogate moms).

In 1992 I left Ukiah to marry Pete Berg of Napa.  For over 30 years we were married and we raised fantastic children that are the absolute light of my world.  Alex Antonio was welcomed in 1996, and Lena Lucia in 2000.They are, by far, my greatest pride and love. I have no doubt that they are the very reason I was put on this earth.  To be their mom has been my absolute honor and joy. 

In Napa I taught school for another 30 years at 3 different sites.  I finished my teaching career at Willow Elementary, an arts-integrated school with another amazing community of teachers and parents.  These friends, whose support during my cancer was incredible, kept my spirits up more than they will ever know.

I am very proud of my teaching career. I am proud that I was able to work through cancer battle  #2 without missing any school.  My students gave me spirit and I hope that I modeled perseverance and positivity for them. Unfortunately, battle #3 forced me to retire.

 After 30+ years of marriage (many of them happy) Pete and I divorced and I moved back to Ukiah in December of 2022 to be near family and life-long friends.

 I have had a good life.  I’ve ridden horseback on the beach, water skied and parasailed in Hawaii and over Lake Tahoe. I've been white water rafting and snowskied, 

fed giraffes, swam with pilot whales and sea turtles.  I’ve watched glaciers melt in Alaska, seen Broadway shows in New York and  stood at The Lincoln Memorial with tears in my eyes.  I’ve enjoyed cooking, baking, eating, gardening, canning, and hiking. I’ve hosted no less than 21 Christmas family dinners and outdoor Easter celebrations and always, ALWAYS made too much food! I’ve perfected my  mother’s biscotti recipe and believe whole-heartedly that they’re the best!

 I’ve watched my son play soccer and my daughter play water polo.I taught them how to ride their bikes, and dive into a pool. I’ve watched them show more independence and bravery than I ever could have imagined for them. Their own adventures and accomplishments are diverse. They are inspiring and I am in awe of them both.

 I have loved laughing with family and friends, and watching nephews and nieces grow to have families of their own.  In October of 2022 I traveled to Italy with two incredible friends- Mary and Dana. More generous friends do not exist. We laughed until we cried, watched the sun set in Florence from the Michelangelo Piazza, swam in the Ligurian Sea at Cinque Terre, and met up with my daughter in Bologna and Venice. I ate gelato every day (sometimes twice a day!)  and it was truly a dream realized with the best ladies in the world! I am so grateful that they made it happen!

 I am survived by my adored children, Alex Berg (Morgan) and Lena Berg, my brother Louie Tollini, and sisters Lucia Fracchia (Tom) and Kathy Dogali. My nephews and nieces include Richie Tollini (Morgan), Calvin Tollini (Jackie), Michael Tollini (Kari Ann), Katie Brown (Jimmy), Emily Williams (Phil), Mario Dogali (Krystle), and Paul Dogali (Melissa). Between them, they have blessed me with 5 great-nephews and 6 great nieces. I am also survived by my wonderful former mother-in-law, Donna Berg and family.

 I am preceded in death by my parents, Hank and Genevieve Tollini,  my sister-in-law Eileen Tollini, my children’s grandfather Roger Berg, and their great grandmother, Margaret “Tutu” Johanson.

Friends, if you took the time to read this, you are rewarded with not having to attend a service.  I am requesting my  friends and family to write a line with a memory or funny tidbit about me to my kids, Alex and Lena, ℅  951 Boonville Road Ukiah, CA 95482. Help keep my memory alive. You know how I love a good story!

 Laugh loud and often friends.  Be kind to one another and love hard.