Marie Louise (Praetzel) Smith

Oct 16, 1932 - Feb 14, 2021

Marie Louise Smith, 88, of Petaluma, California passed away peacefully on Feb. 14 2021 in Oakland, CA. Marie was born October 16, 1932 to Desmond and Bertha King Praetzel of Petaluma. She graduated from St. Vincents High School in Petaluma in 1949 and married Will Bill Bondietti, Sr of Tomales, CA in 1954. They divorced a couple of years later and Marie continued on to do highly skilled secretarial work for insurance companies in San Francisco and Honolulu, HI.

Beautiful in so many ways and possessed with operatic singing talents Marie was driven by a passion to rectify the injustices she saw in her world. Wherever there was a cause needing a voice -Marie was there. From Indigenous to Communities of Color, and in more recent decades, LGBT rights as well as those living on the street, Marie’s fiery voice could be heard, not just marching and waving the appropriate flags which she did - but sharing her heart of compassion with them, living with them, becoming a voice for them, loving them.

Marie was preceded in death by her parents and is survived by children Bill Bondietti of Homer Alaska, Joshua Smith of Berkeley; grandson Brian Bondietti of Billings, Montana. Sisters Carol Cunningham of Half Moon Bay, Nancy McGunagle of Bigfork, Montana; brothers Michael Praetzel of Bellingham, Washington, Paul Praetzel of Petaluma and Jerry Praetzel of Rollins, Montana, and numerous nieces and nephews. A private family ceremony will take place. In place of flowers you may send donations to the SF LGBT Pride Celebration Committee.