Cassandra J. Torkildson

Cassandra, age 68 died on February 2, 2017.

Cassandra was born in Thief River Falls, Minnesota to Donald and Jonella Domek (both deceased). She and her parents moved to Moorhead, Minnesota, where she later graduated from Moorhead High School and Moorhead State College, majoring in Social Work. She played the violin in both high school and college orchestras, as well as the St. Paul Civic Orchestra.

She moved to Minneapolis and began working as an investigator and later, conciliator for the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, investigating cases of discrimination. While most cases involved employments, she investigated the city police department as well as state correctional institutions. She was always challenged by the variety of cases.

Cassandra began a career in Human Resources with General Mills in the Affirmative Action Department and was later transferred to a GM subsidiary as HR Director for Wallpapers To Go in Hayward, CA. After leaving WTG, she served as head of HR and consultant for many small and mid-sized companies within a variety of industries. She specialized in setting up the HR function within those organizations. While she enjoyed working with so many organizations, her favorite was Marine Terminals Corporation, a stevedore company, headquartered in San Francisco, with locations from San Diego to Dutch Harbor, Alaska. She loved the industry and, most importantly, the people.

While working for a game development company in San Francisco, she met Chris Torkildson. Then later while working for a software development company, they realized that they belonged together, even if, as Cass said – they had nothing in common. They were married in 1998 then moved to Kentucky where she volunteered as a hospital patient advocate. The lived in Louisville for five years, but they missed California, so they moved back in 2006.

Cass loved movies, double cheeseburgers, gardening, reading, cooking with Chris (who was her “chopper dave”), and her dogs Booker and Cooper. She always felt she had a full life and was thankful for her family, friends and every day she was given.

She is survived by her husband, Chris and two sisters – Amy (Rex) Keeler, Lincoln, NE and Melissa Domek, Moorhead, MN.

Donations can be made to the National Association of Free Clinics or the SPCA.

Arrangements under the direction of Nicoletti, Culjis & Herberger Funeral Home, Sacramento, CA.