Mary Allen Griffin

January 26, 1936 - April 18, 2022

SAN DIEGO —

Mary Allen Griffin was born on January 26, 1936, in Shanghai, as the second daughter of the Gibbs family, where her father worked in the U.S. Federal Government. It was August 1937, when the Japanese bombed the Shanghai harbor, so her family fled the war with the U.S. Marines protection. Mary attended American schools and lived in multiple countries across the world, including Paris and Mexico City. From 1953-1957, Mary attended Missouri University. She went on to teach eighthgrade General Science in the Lindbergh School District in Kirkwood, Missouri.

On August 8, 1959, she married her husband at St. Patrick’s Church in East St. Louis, who she met on a blind date. In 1957, they moved in San Diego County, where they lived for 65 years. She was an active member of the San Diego County Art Club and St. Brigid Parish. She instilled in each of her descendants the importance of an education and empowered each to pursue higher education.

She was an avid notetaker, who had detailed notes of her latest grocery haul- labeled with where you could find each item purchased (location and drawer number), what store it was purchased from, and the expiration date, all annotated. She was known for hosting each major holiday at her home. Her Italian heritage showed through because she was adamant about each family member residing within San Diego County to visit often. She was a caring matriarch where she was a source of love and light in each one of the lives she touched. She was loved by the community because they recognized her presence, admired her spirit, verbosity, and storytelling. She was never one for the spotlight. She was a woman of great integrity who cared very much in helping others and chose to live a life that mattered.

Mary Allen Griffin died on Monday, April 18, 2022, at her home. She was 86 years old. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, her children, and grandchildren.

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