Mary Sanchez

Mary was a devoted sister and aunt who gave her life in service to God and others. She was dedicated to social justice and lived her life in committed service to the poor, the elderly and infirm. It was a life she chose valiantly and with great heart.

Mary was born in Los Angeles, California on January 4, 1936, the beloved daughter of Leo and Maxine Sanchez. She was the sixth of eleven children and raised in San Bernardino, California. She is survived by five sisters, Josephine Zanone, Theresa Ybarra, Rita Sanchez (Richard Griswold Del Castillo), Angelica Stinnett (Steven), and Emily Mikkelson (Michael), and two brothers, Emiliano Sanchez and Severo Sanchez, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers—Leo, Chris and Joseph Sanchez.

At age 16 she was an honor student at San Bernardino High School and chosen as one of two girls from each California high school to attend the Girl's State Leadership Conference in Sacramento. She graduated from SBHS, San Bernardino Valley college, and became an award-winning newspaper reporter for the San Bernardino Sun-Telegram where she worked for nearly 20 years. She always said she was part of a generation of journalists dedicated to writing the truth in the news. She wrote front-page stories, and was privileged to meet celebrities, dignitaries, and sometimes the notorious. She left that profession while in her early thirties when she went to work for Congessman Pettis in Washington, D.C.

In 1974 she lived with the Little Sisters of Jesus in Washington D.C., then joined Mother Teresa's team of volunteers, working for communities in Chicago and West Virginia in Osage County. She then returned to California to work for Cesar Chavez at the United Farm Workers Headquarters at La Paz in Keene, California from 1973 to 1975; became associate editor of the Inland Catholic Newspaper; and finally worked for the San Bernardino Community College School District.

Through it all, her call to a more meaningful life was reflected in her beliefs as a woman of faith. Her life changed and she helped change others when she joined the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. Mary survived many illnesses. She was determined to overcome all the ongoing challenges that came with these setbacks by focusing on others. She attributed her recovery and longevity to the grace of God, medical science, and a simple vegan diet.

Despite the daily tasks, her life was one filled with beauty. Her walls were covered with art and her space with music. She spent one period of her life performing in a women's choir called the Sweet Adelines. Mary also loved to read and her library was filled with great literature, good humor, and vegetarian cook books. Her specialities were the amazing salads which she loved to share at family occasions. She enjoyed coming home to a good book and belonged to book clubs and writing groups where she could express her ideas.

She retired after 16 years as Public Information Officer at Crafton Hills and San Bernardino Valley Colleges and won many awards. She also sponsored Aztlan News, a student paper, nominated many students for awards, whether the Puente Project, or a recovering addict or re-entry mother who excelled in college. She ministered to incarcerated women and to those living with AIDS. Finally, she founded "The Love Ministry" at her church, Christ the Redeemer, gathering and organizing volunteers to visit the elderly in rest homes. For this she was given the award by the Catholic Diocese of San Bernardino for her exemplary service and dedication to others.

Her personal papers will be housed at Cal State University San Bernardino; and her final interview, given days before she died, will be housed at UT Austin, School of Journalism.

Rosary will be held at 7:00pm on Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at Montecito Memorial Park and Mortuary, 3520 E. Washington Street, Colton, CA 92324. Mass will be celebrated at 10:00am on Wednesday, July 25, 2018 at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 339 N. Sycamore Avenue, Rialto, CA 92376.

Mary will be laid to rest thereafter at Montecito Memorial Park, 3520 E. Washington Street, Colton, CA 92324.