Mokelumne Hill, CA…Kathryn Lee Dell’Orto (Hammond) passed away of natural causes on February 2nd, 2025.  Kathy was born October 24th, 1948 in Reno, Nevada to parents John and Diane Hammond. She moved as a child to Jackson, California and eventually settled in Mokelumne Hill, having attended Jackson and then Calaveras High Schools.

On November 13, 1965 she married the love of her life, Michael Dell’Orto, and their family soon grew with the additions of Brandon and Sloane. The four lived on top of Easy Bird Road in a house Mike’s father built, near his mother Bertha and brother Dale.

From the earliest days of motherhood, Kathy was deeply involved in the lives of her children and their friends, hosting swim parties, helping out in the local Parent Club and 4-H, and later with the Lions Club. Over her entire adult life in Calaveras County she made many wonderful and enduring friendships that she cherished.

When Brandon and Sloane were older and didn’t need lunch boxes filled and holes in jeans sewn, she worked as the town librarian and later moved to Mokelumne Hill Elementary, eventually serving as the school librarian and secretary for many years. She impacted children and families for years until “Grammy” status pulled her into retirement. This allowed her to dote on her four grandsons – Christopher, Nathan, Jason and Adam – with fun, love, and a never-ending supply of sugar cookies and books to read.

In addition to her husband, children, daughter-inlaw Bobbi Dell’Orto and grandchildren, she leaves behind brothers Guy, Mark, Thane, Charlie-Dard, Ralph, and Joey. She goes to reunite with her mother Diane, sister Polly, and father John, who passed before her.

A celebration of Kathy’s life will be held May 10th at 11:30am, with lunch and stories of remembrance, in the Moke Hill Town Hall on Main Street. In lieu of flowers, please send any donations to the Mokelumne Hill Elementary Parents Club in honor of her years of service there:

MHE PIE
8350 Highway 26
Mokelumne Hill, CA 95245

Memo line: Kathy Dell’Orto Memorial Fund