MARY ROSALES

On the evening of Tuesday, June 7, 2022, Mary Rosales of Fremont, California, passed away peacefully at the age of 92. Mary was born in Colton, California during the Great Depression of 1929 to Cornelio and Elena Contreras. She was the first born daughter in a family of nine children. Mary lived on Flores Street and attended Woodrow Wilson Elementary School. She was given the nickname ‘Mary Lou’ by one of her teachers. Her best friend growing up was her sister, Chelo (Consuelo). Although Mary dreamed of going to college she was never able to complete the 12th grade as her parents needed her help caring for the home, her younger siblings, plowing the fields, and picking crops. In 1946, Mary worked for dress manufacturer, Henry Rosenfeld of California Inc., as a seamstress. During that time she met her future husband, Robert, whom had just returned from serving in World War II. In the summer of 1947, she and Robert eloped to Yuma County, Arizona and in 1954 they were joined in the Holy Bonds of Matrimony by the San Salvador Catholic Church in Colton, California. In 1955, Mary and her family moved into their new home on Monroe Street. Mary volunteered as a Bluebirds Scout Leader and was the host of many baby showers in her lovely home. In 1963, Mary returned to work as a waitress for La Paloma and The Mexico restaurants in San Bernardino. But she will mostly be remembered for the delicious Mexican cuisine she prepared while managing the Saenz Market Taco Stand on the corner of Mill and Pennsylvania, in Colton. In 1981, Mary moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to be closer to her grandchildren, her aging father, and her siblings. She became the caregiver to her father and several other patients, who later became her personal friends. Mary enjoyed traveling the Mexican Riviera, the Riviera Maya, Hawaii, and Washington D.C. where she received a private tour of the White House. She attended the World Series of 2008 and 2009, the International Mariachi Festival, and had front row seats to see Barbra Streisand, and Tom Jones. Her favorite song was ‘Green, green grass of home’. Mary’s backyard was her oasis. She loved to sit under the sun, near her vegetable garden, reading her bible and having her morning cup of Folgers instant coffee. Her favorite vegetables to grow (and eat) were nopales (cactus), watermelon, and Early Girl tomatoes. Mary had an impeccable sense of style in fashion, and in gift-giving. Mary is survived by her children: Olivia (Gary), Elizabeth, Robert (Enedina), and Lisa; grandchildren: Jeffrey (Lana), Becky (Oscar), Anna Marie, Bobby, Leeandra (Joe), Erica (Sergio), Alexis and Alec; great grandchildren: Sebastian, Christian, Gabriel, Sergio, Vincent, Lilliana, Adalia, Leyla, Jim, and Mateo; her siblings Cornelio, Nena, Gloria and John; many godchildren, and her best friend Margaret. Mary will be interred at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Hayward, CA, with her mother, Elena, in a private service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Mary’s preferred Catholic non-profit, the overseas mission movement, Maryknoll. Thank you, mama, for giving us God’s ‘bendiciones’.