Mary passed away peacefully on April 9, 2012 while visiting her daughter in Hollister,CA. A. seventh generation Californian, Mary was born on Oct. 16, 1907 in San Benito County and attended Sacred Heart and San Benito High School.
In the 1930’s she was a bookkeeper and telephone operator at Leonard’s store in Tres Pinos. During WWII she worked in defense industries in San Diego, Seattle and Philadelphia.
After the war she settled in San Francisco where she lived for the remainder of her life. She was a china packer for Macy’s downtown and, after retirement, worked for several years as a teacher’s aide at St. Paul’s grammar school where she was known affectionately as “Grandma”.
Mary loved to sew and did exquisite embroidery work. She also loved the SF Giants and watched their games on television as often as possible. Her second favorite baseball team was “The Birds” as she called the St. Louis Cardinals. So the last two seasons were good ones for her.
Mary was the first-born child of Joseph and Theresa (Aniotzbehere) DeRoza. She was predeceased by her parents, her ex-husband Fred Harper, her sisters Minnie Serpa Pacheco, Virginia DeRoza, Louise McDonald and Margaret Mills as well as three nephews. She is survived by her daughters Sarah (Larry) Bertine of Hollister and Jan Knudson of San Francisco. Also surviving are grandchildren Laura (Patrick Schmitzer) Bertine of Morgan Hill, Mary Bertine of Chester NJ, John (Ellen) Bertine of San Carlos and Donovan Knudson of San Francisco as well as five great-grandchildren: Deanna Knudson, Katherine and Elizabeth Schmitzer, Tessa and Owen Bertine. Also surviving are three nieces, numerous great-nieces and nephews, special friends Janelle and Jaden Balce and her caregiver Elsie Aviles.
Friends are invited to a Mass which will be said on Thursday April 19, 2012, at 12:00 P.M. in Immaculate Conception Church, Tres Pinos, the church where Mary was baptized and her parents were married.
Visit www.grunnagle.com to send condolences.
Mary Eleanor Harper October 16, 1907 – April 9, 2012
