Positive thinking.
That’s what Dorothy Indelicato learned from her mother, Mary Cardoza.
“She had a very positive attitude, especially when it came to people and things and in life,” Indelicato recalled on Monday.
Her mother also believed “helping others will benefit the community and it benefits you and your family.”
For that, Indelicato got involved in the Manteca Chamber of Commerce, Manteca Mayor’s Committee on the Arts, Soroptimist International, Manteca Visitors and Conference Bureau, St. Joseph Medical Foundation board, Stockton Symphony, and the Delta College Foundation.
She was also part of St. Dominic’s Hospital / Catholic Heatlhcare West in Manteca before becoming Kaiser Permanente Medical Center.
Indelicato was equally influenced by her grandmother, Mary Soares, who was widowed at 35 yet raised 10 children by herself.
She attributed both for her Women of Distinction selection. Indelicato along with Linda Abeldt, Bea Bowlsby, Evelyn Prouty, Karen McLaughlin, Lucille Harris, Patty Reece, Rose Albano Risso, Sister Ann Venita Britto, and Toni Raymus will be honored Friday at the 10th annual Women’s Connection event at Calvary Community Church.
Indelicato will be joined by her daughter along with cousins, sisters-in-law, and friends.
Although she’ll be receiving recognition for her influences, the memories of her grandmother and mother will be with her.
“They both had some influence on me,” she said.
Indelicato serves on the board of directors for Delicato Family Vineyards. She’s the board treasurer and the community affairs liaison.
Business, meanwhile, continues to thrive. Indelicato recalled the days when Delicato produced 200,000 gallons of wine annually with local distribution.
“We’re now at 52 million gallons and distributing internationally,” she said.
Indelicato is semi retired, working 25 hours per week. Yet that’s still a far cry from her 50- to 60- hour work weeks.
In addition, she prides herself on her involvement with the Manteca Soroptimists.
“I remembered when we gave the Manteca Fire Department its first ‘jaws of life’ (about 30 years ago),” Indelicato said. “I think they used it later that day to help save someone’s life.”
