Obituary

Umberta (Berta) Rix nee Dottor, passed away on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in the
presence of her daughter, Manuela Rix, and son-in-law, Simon Fowler, with whom she
had lived, and been cared for, together with their children, Celeste and Madeleine
Fowler, since 2012.

“Nonna”, to most of us who knew her, was born in the Veneto
region of Italy on January 16, 1930, to Leonardo Dottor and Carolina Dottor nee
Casagrande. She was the eldest of three siblings, sister to Sergio Dottor and Luciana
Pinotti.
In 1953, at age 23, Nonna left her beloved Veneto for Switzerland. She was a skilled
seamstress and worked at a haute couture house in Zürich. In 1963 she married Uwe
Rix (originally from Lübeck, Germany) and in 1977 the family emigrated from
Switzerland to the United States. Many years passed as they waited, somewhat
impatiently in Berta’s case, for grandchildren. Having only one child themselves, the
odds were stacked against them.
Immediately after the birth of their first granddaughter, Celeste, they pulled up stakes in
Tennessee and came north. They delighted in the birth of another granddaughter,
Madeleine, and spent countless hours at Somerville playgrounds, ferrying the girls to
and from school, and buying them unhealthy snacks at Dunkin’.
Berta lived her last twelve years in Somerville MA. She was a popular neighborhood
fixture, often seen walking Somerville’s seven hills with Uwe by her side and later, after
he passed, she kept right on walking! Her friends would call out to her “Nonna, how are
you doing?” Her reply without fail: “I still alive!”
The Rix-Fowler family are grateful for the community of friends and healthcare
professionals who have been a light to Berta in good times, and during difficult times as
well. She loved you all.
Funeral service will be held at Bigelow Chapel, Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge
MA, Thursday, May 23, 2024, at 2 PM.