Mary Elizabeth Mango

DECEMBER 30, 1983 - AUGUST 6, 2013

Mary was such a happy baby. Mary surrounded herself with all the stuffed animals she loved so much just like she loved her real animals later in her life. She loved to eat but thought the food on everyone else's plate was better than hers. When it was time for Mary to go to preschool, she preferred to stay home with her mom where she had more fun.

As Mary started school she was very socialable and got along well with all the other kids. The teachers always commented on how everyone loved to be with Mary. Mary always loved animals and showed a special affection toward horses. For Mary's 7th birthday she received a BIG surprise, her first horse, Mr. Snowbuck. Mary nicknamed him Bucky. They became inseperable. Mary began riding lessons and started participating in horse shows. Sadly at age 8 Mary was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. For the next year she learned to take her own blood sugars and give her own shots. Even at such a young age she took a great responsability of caring for herself through this difficult disease. Mary started running daily for exercise and when she couldn't go outside she would run up and down the stairs at home. She started eating a more healthy diet and soon became a vegetarian. She was very thankful for Bucky to help get her through these difficult times.

In later elementary years Mary developed a deep interest in Greek Mythology and since then named all of her animals after Greek Gods or Goddesses. During Mary's Jr High School years she began theatre. Mary always had a love and passion for acting. Her dream was to be an actress one day. When she did perform, the audience was brought to tears with her outstanding emotional display of character. She had a great gift to be able to memorize quickly anything of importance to her. She performed in Little Women, Cyrano de Bergerac and A Night in Elsinore (a parody on MacBeth). Mary developed a love for writing and drawing during these years. She wrote peoms for all her close friends. She also journaled fer feelings dealing with diabetes.

Sadly at age 18 Mary had a severe allergic reaction to an antibiotic she was given. From this point forward she aquired multiple ailments and disease. During these trying times she found comfort in her horse Bucky which was her soul mate, spending time with her family, journaling and writing lyrics to songs and singing to Korn, her favorite band. Mary was an animal rights activist and thus saved her horse, Xanthus, from being slautered. Mary took great pride in teaching others including children, about the care of animals and the theraputic benefits of unconditional love. As Mary's illness worsened and she was hospitalized more often, Mary never stopped helping others and always found the good even in the most difficult times. Mary was a constant inspiration to others. She took time to listen to others difficulties but never complained about her own pain. She inspired and uplifted all her knew her and loved her. Mary told her mom, "I just wish everyone would be happy and not suffer." Mary was a bright light to all those who knew her on earth and we are sure heaven is even brighter with her there!