Clara Rose Dobrino

 

July 31, 1930 – January 19, 2026

 

Clara Rose Dobrino, 95, of Vista, California, passed away on January 19, 2026.

 

Born on July 31, 1930, in Mt. Olive, Illinois, Clara was the middle child of John and Anna Yancik. She attended grade school at Holy Trinity Catholic School and then attended Mt. Olive High School. While in high school she worked as a waitress. She graduated with honors in the class of 1948. After high school, she worked in an office in St. Louis and commuted to work from her Aunt Elizabeth’s home in Granite City.

 

On May 17, 1952, she married Thomas Dobrino at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Mt. Olive, Illinois. They were high school sweethearts and spent their honeymoon touring the minor league baseball parks where Tom previously played in the Cotton States League. Her husband was in the United States Air Force at the time of their wedding. They moved to Chicago when he got stationed at O’Hare Field and Clara got an office job working with Tom’s cousin’s wife. Shortly after Tom was deployed to Taegu Air Force Base in Korea, Clara’s brother David came to live with her and work in Chicago. In 1955 her husband was discharged from the service and together they built a beautiful life in Chicago, Illinois, where they raised their son, Tom.

 

Clara enjoyed being a mom and volunteered at all her son’s school events. She even served as an officer of the PTA for many years. When her son was in high school, his friends were always at the house. They called her Mrs. Cleaver, from the popular Leave It to Beaver sitcom, as she was always ready to listen with a cookie jar that was filled to the brim! She went to Wright Junior College to study bookkeeping and then worked for Pierce Toy Company in Chicago.

 

An avid fan of the Chicago Cubs, Clara loved attending “Ladies Day” games at Wrigley Field with her son when he was young. She rarely met a crossword puzzle that stumped her and loved reading. She would literally devour a novel in just a few days! She loved her extended family dearly and she and her husband traveled back to Mt. Olive numerous times every year to attend family get togethers.

 

In 2006, after her husband retired, they moved to Escondido, California, to be closer to their son and his wife. Once there, Clara said she got the house of her dreams. It was a single-story house with no stairs, even the laundry room was on the same level! Keep in mind prior to moving to California they lived on the second floor of a 2-flat in Chicago with laundry in the basement. In Escondido they built amazing friendships, and Clara was over the moon when her granddaughter Abigail arrived. She said it was love at first sight and spoiled her every chance she could!

 

Clara loved dining out and so much that a few restaurants had her favorite drink, iced tea with lemon, waiting on the table before she even sat down. One eatery even had a Clara Dobrino special! She took great pleasure in remembering birthdays, anniversaries, and other special events in people’s lives with cards. She was always happy to go shopping, especially when it included dining out.

 

She dedicated her life to her faith, family and friends and truly loved sharing in their special life moments. She was always ready to celebrate. Clara was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Escondido, California, a very active member of the St. Mary Women’s Bible Study and the St. Mary Altar & Rosary Society.

 

Clara was preceded in death by her husband Thomas Dobrino; parents John & Anna (Tomso) Yancik; sister Ruthmary Zubal; brothers David & Robert Yancik; in-laws Clarence Zubal, Donald Dobrino, Robert Dobrino; great-great nephew Will Sprague.

 

She is survived by her son Tom, his wife Marianne and granddaughter Abigail Dobrino of Vista, CA; sister Joan Langewisch of Mt. Olive, IL; sister-in-laws Norma Yancik of Mt. Olive, IL, Kathleen Yancik of Mt. Olive, IL, and Cyrelda Dobrino of Benld, IL; many nieces and nephews; many great-nieces and great-nephews; many great-great nieces and a great-great nephew.

 

Visitation will take place at Becker and Son Funeral Home in Mt. Olive, IL on Friday, February 6, 2026 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The rosary will begin at 6:30 p.m. A funeral mass will take place on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at St. John Paul II Catholic Church in Mt. Olive, IL beginning at 11:00 a.m. It will be officiated by Father Thomas Hagstrom. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery in Mt. Olive, IL. Family and friends are invited to lunch at the St. John Paul II Church Hall immediately following interment.

 

Memorial Mass will take place 10:00 a.m. Monday, February 16, 2026, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 1170 S. Broadway, Escondido CA 92025

 

Memorials: Calvary Cemetery Improvement Fund, Mt. Olive Academic Foundation, St. Mary Altar & Rosary Society

 

Becker and Son Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Anyone wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at beckerandson.com.