She attended Mt. St. Joseph Academy in Brighton. Mary received her Bachelor's Degree from Boston State Teachers College and moved to San Diego to begin her teaching career. There she met her husband, Richard Bertain, who was also a teacher. They moved to the San Fernando Valley where they raised six children. She taught 2nd Grade at St. John Eudes Catholic School for 19 years where she took joy and pride in preparing her students for their First Holy Communion each year. She also had many tips to help the 7-year olds learn to handwrite, not an easy task. And, everyone will agree, she had the most perfect handwriting in the world.
In 1990, when Richard got a job in Washington, D.C. working for the President, they moved to Georgetown. While there, Mary worked in Barbara Bush's Correspondence Office and she and her husband were chairpersons of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
They returned to California in 1993, where Mary worked as the Wedding Coordinator at St. John Baptist de la Salle Church.
Mary was an avid reader and especially enjoyed mystery novels and historical fiction. This may have been inspired by one of her first jobs working at the Public Library in Brighton. She also had a knack for crossword puzzles and knew words most of us didn’t know existed.
She was a loving mother and wife and a wonderful grandmother and great-grandmother.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Dr. Richard V. Bertain, Sr.; her son, Michael Bertain; and her brother John Sullivan.
She will be dearly missed by her children: Suzanne Todorovic of Northridge; Richard, Jr. (Kellie) of Burbank; Alisa (Dennis) of Valley Village; Stacia (John) of Palmdale; and Kevin of Pacoima; grandchildren: Jessica Dubane (Steve) of Agoura Hills; Jonathan Bertain of Brooklyn, NY; George Todorovic of Brooklyn, NY; Lucas Nemeth of Walnut Creek; Stefan Todorovic of Brooklyn, NY; Angela Bertain of Palmdale; Marika Nemeth of Tucson, AZ; Jordan Bertain of Burbank; and Jackson Bertain of Burbank; great-grandchildren: Dillon and Olivia; two brothers: Fr. Eugene Sullivan of Roslindale, MA; and Gerard Sullivan (Kathy) of Needham, MA; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
The family would like to thank Villa Rose Board & Care in Sherman Oaks for their attention and care over the last few months.
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