Help Us Give Mary Sanchez a Beautiful Farewell

Dear friends and family,

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved mother/grandmother/dear friend, Mary Sanchez. She was a source of light, love, and strength for everyone who had the privilege of knowing her. Her warmth, sense of humor, and kindness touched countless lives, and her memory will remain with us forever.

For the past few years, Mary bravely fought an aggressive form of cancer. She always expressed to her doctors and family her determination to keep fighting and never give up. Mary remained optimistic and strong, drawing on her deep will to persevere so she could be with her family. Despite her incredible strength and courage, Mary passed away a few weeks ago. While our hearts are broken over the loss of our beloved mother and grandmother, we are committed to honoring her life with a meaningful burial and memorial service.

As we navigate this difficult time, we want to give her the farewell she truly deserves. Unfortunately, the costs of her funeral and memorial services have placed a financial burden on our family. We are reaching out to our community for support in covering these expenses, ensuring we can celebrate her life in a way that honors her beautiful spirit.

Your contributions will go directly toward funeral costs, burial arrangements, and a memorial service. Any amount, no matter how small, will make a difference and help us create a loving tribute to her legacy.

We are deeply grateful for your kindness, prayers, and support during this time. Thank you for helping us honor our mom’s life and for standing by us in this moment of need.

With heartfelt thanks,

Her Children and Grandchildren

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here is a heartfelt glimpse into Mary’s beautiful life:

Mary was born on November 12, 1957, in Lima, Peru. She was a dedicated student throughout her primary and secondary education and later attended Ricardo Palma University in Lima, following in the footsteps of her older brother. Mary pursued a degree in architecture and was a passionate advocate for higher education. She had three beautiful children from her first marriage and lovingly raised them in Lima.

In 1992, Mary separated from her first husband and courageously took on the role of a single mother. Seeking a brighter future for her family, she moved to the United States with her youngest son, settling in San Diego, CA. By 1994, Mary had relocated to the East Bay and, that same year, met her life partner. In November 1996, Mary welcomed her youngest child and second daughter, whom she lovingly raised in Castro Valley.

Mary was deeply committed to serving and caring for others, especially children and seniors, ensuring they received nutritious meals. From 1995 to 2007, she worked as the Head Cook and Dietician at Hayward Hills Convalescent Hospital. She then became a Supervising Dietician at Eden Villa until 2015. Later, she worked as a Cafeteria Assistant for the Castro Valley Unified School District. In every role, Mary expressed her love and compassion through the meals she prepared, showing her deep empathy and care for those she served.

Although she was born and raised in Lima, Mary grew to love her adoptive home in the United States. When her youngest daughter was in high school, Mary attended English classes at the Castro Valley Adult School. Her hard work and determination led her to excel, and she was honored to give a speech at her class graduation. Her family was incredibly proud of her achievements, as Mary’s dedication made her fluent in English. After more than a decade as a permanent resident, Mary became a U.S. citizen in 2019—a moment of immense pride for her and her family.

Beyond being a devoted mother, Mary was a loving grandmother to six grandchildren. She cherished their unique qualities and embraced her role with warmth and affection.

Mary had many passions. She was an avid fan of Bruno Mars and loved classical music, including works by Beethoven, Mozart, and Chopin, which inspired her to encourage her youngest daughter to take piano lessons. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, historical fiction, and learning about American history. A lover of cold weather, she found joy in cooking traditional Peruvian dishes for her family and staying politically informed.

In her early 20s, Mary traveled extensively, visiting multiple countries where she learned to speak French, Italian, and some Arabic. Her sense of humor and optimism were hallmarks of her personality. Mary had a gift for making people laugh and was seen as a second mother by many of her children’s friends because of her kindness and generosity.

Even during her battle with cancer, Mary remained hopeful and strong. Before she passed, her children promised to stay united and carry on her legacy of love and resilience. With her enormous heart and unwavering spirit, Mary’s family is honoring her memory with a proper burial, reflecting the profound impact she had on their lives.