Josephine "Dolly" Teresa Prevost

Josephine “Dolly” Theresa Prevost
YUCAIPA, CALIFORNIA –Nicknamed “Dolly” by her older sister,
Josephine Theresa “Dolly” Prevost 93, passed away peacefully on
December 13, 2021, with family.

Dolly was born on September 22, 1928 in Santa Cruz, California to
Louis William Passolt and Cecilia Hanns Passolt. With her parents and
sister Lucille, Dolly moved to Southgate at the age of 3, in 1931, then to
Westwood in 1936.

Family Background

Dolly was a fourth generation Californian.

On her mother’s side: California pioneer Frederick Wilhelm Behrens
[left Oldenburg, Germany in 1848 at the age of 19 for Sutter’s Mill, where
gold had been found] In 1849 Mexico ceded California to the United States
in the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo at the end of the Mexican-American
War. He married Klara Margaret Flock who came to the United States
around the same time. Frederick and Klara married in Sacramento on
March 15, 1845. [first generation]. Frederick and Klara had a number of
children, including a daughter named Anna Behrens, born in 1861 in
Cherokee, California. Anna married Joseph Phillip “JP”Hanns [born in
Canada] in 1880. They died in Vallejo, Anna in1924, JP in 1935; Hanns
Park exists today on land they donated to Vallejo, after their full lives, which
included general farming and stock raising, and giving birth to ten children,
including Cecilia in 1904. [second generation] Cecilia married Louis
Passolt [third generation]; they had two daughters, Lucille and Josephine.

On her father’s side: Christian Passault [first generation,original
spelling, refused to “Americanize the spelling] came with his son Charles
Passolt and wife Emma in the 1840s from Germany to the U.S. [second
generation] their son Edward Charles Passolt [known as Edward] [third
generation. The family finished their inland journey to Wisconsin by wagon
train. Edward Passolt married Ida Mattie later in life. Edward was a farmer
and later served in the Wisconsin Infantry during the Civil War on the side
of the Union; the unit consisted mostly of sons of the Irish, German and
English immigrants who settled in Wisconsin, who were motivated to enlist
by a sense of duty and a desire to keep the Union intact. He was on active
duty from 1862 until 1865. Edward and Ida had two children of their own
including Louis William Passolt [fourth generation].

Louis “Louie” Passolt and Cecilia [“Celia”] Hanns met at a dance. They
married in Vallejo, and were married for 50 years before Louis passed
away in1975, after settling into their Westwood home to raise their
daughters Lucille and Dolly.
Dolly’s Childhood and Adult Life

Dolly attended St. Paul the Apostle Elementary School and St.
Monica High School, then Mount St. Mary’s College and UCLA, [she was a
member of Theta Phi Alpha Sorority] before getting married and dropping
out of college, as was the custom. Ernie’s parents were not pleased when,
after high school, he started dating a “non-Catholic” girl. Ernie’s parents
knew the Passolts, and like match-making parents everywhere, came up
with a plan to introduce Ernie and Dolly under the guise of a dinner party,
which led to a first date – a picnic in Griffith Park, and things moved forward
from there to a wedding

Dolly married Ernest “Ernie” C. Prevost on June 19, 1948, they lived
in various places in southern California before retiring to Lakeport in 1986.

Dolly and Ernie had four daughters stretched over a nearly 17 year
period [two living in southern California, one in Maryland, one in Florida],
who themselves contribute to their communities, and one son born
prematurely who, sadly, died the day he was born. During the years, Dolly
served as an active volunteer in a number of different activities from
Brownies and Girl Scouts, classroom activities, and as a member of various
Catholic churches, and bands and drill teams the girls were active in. Dolly
also helped with the grandchildren as they arrived, serving that unique,
special role so essential to grandchildren’s development. Dolly also served
as a volunteer at two southern California hospitals [Harbor General and
Daniel Freeman], and at Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport.

On the business side Dolly and Ernie owned two employment
agencies, one in Long Beach, one in Beverly Hills, in addition to Ernie
working for Garrett AiResearch for nearly 40 years and Dolly handling her
community service volunteer work.

While retired in Lakeport, Dolly and Ernie enjoyed traveling, boating
in their pontoon boat, being involved in their homeowner association, and
being away from the southern California traffic.

Throughout her life, Dolly had a solid work ethic that led her to
complete work first. She believed in things being done correctly, believed in
teaching and demonstrating values by actions as well as words, was fun-
loving and had a great sense of humor. An accomplished seamstress, she
made everything from clothes for herself and the daughters to Halloween
costumes.

For the past ten years, Dolly actively volunteered at the Plymouth
Village retirement home where she lived, serving on the Emergency
Response Team and helping in the card shop and the Curiosity shop, and
organizing birthday teas for fellow residents, always trying to leave things
better. A lover of animals, there were always special family pets, some –
like little Bailey and Boo borrowed from Lisa’s family – who were there to
comfort her during her battles with health issues. Dolly did not die of covid,
but spent a few days in a Loma Linda hospital overcrowded with covid- and
other patients before being discharged to Hospice care with family, while
making sure her imminent passing did not keep any family member from
getting the most out of life possible. She never got over the realization from
Easter in 2020 that there was no church in the world open for worship.

Son Stephen, parents Louis Passolt and Cecilia Passolt, husband Ernie Prevost, sister Lucille Noll and son-in-law Joe Gievers predeceased her.

Dolly is survived by Children Karen Gievers/Bach [Frank], Susan
Gainey [Jim], Nanci Kenny [Terry] and Lisa Reed [Grant], Grandchildren
Dan Gievers, Donna Zuniga [Oney]; Kathy Gainey [Zach King] and Kim
Gainey [Jason Kirwan], Melissa Blodgett [John], Brandon Reed [Luciana],
Brittney Koonz [Dave] and Brayden Reed, and Great Grandchildren
Steven and Alex Gievers, Jacob and Jessica Zuniga, Lucy Gainey King,
and Charles and Marcus Kirwan. Dolly is also survived by nephews Barry,
Rick and Eric Noll and their respective families, nephew Roland Prevost
and his spouse, and other cousins, relatives and their families too
numerous to name.

Regrettably, due to covid, there will be a family only service. To avoid
further covid spread, the family requests that any friend of Dolly participate
in a random act of kindness while thinking of her, or making a donation to
their favorite charity, whether Hospice, local animal shelters or others.