Mary Lupe Hernandez

Mary L. Hernandez passed away on July 28, 2025, after a private battle with cancer which she never let get the best of her. She lived her entire life with joy and gratitude and always lit up a room with her smile. She faced her last weeks with grace and dignity surrounded by family until her peaceful passing with loved ones by her side.

Mary was born in 1943 in Pomona, CA to Aurelio and Marina Ayala, and she was the 7th of 9 brothers and sisters. She graduated Pomona Catholic High School in 1961 and began working at Burlington Industries as a young woman. Mary was married to Arthur “Turi” Hernandez in 1964, and they recently celebrated their 60th Anniversary in December in Palm Springs. Mary and Arthur had 3 sons: Eric, their eldest, and twins, Randolph and Sanford.

After an almost 30-year career at Burlington Industries, Mary took early retirement and soon after began a very rewarding working relationship with the Assistance League of Pomona Valley (ALPV). Mary not only enjoyed her time as office manager at the Assistance League Dental Center, but she very much enjoyed the families she assisted, the wonderful dentists and staff she worked with, and the lovely women of the assistance league who became her friends over the years. After a cherished 28 years with the ALPV, Mary retired.

The flexible Assistance League work schedule allowed Mary -along with Arthur- time to enjoy more than twenty-five years of traveling around the world. Beginning with their first trip to Spain up until their last trip to Australia, they traveled to over 40 countries, along with dozens of adventures around the USA and frequent trips to Rosarito Beach.

When not working or traveling, Mary loved spending time with her neighbors or with her girlfriends around town seeing movies, at church, shopping, out for a meal, or on a visit to the casino. She loved her Dodgers, watching golf, a weekend in Las Vegas, old black and white movies, or sipping a good cabernet. But more than anything, she loved her family. She loved her kids, she loved her siblings, she loved her nieces and nephews, and she loved her granddaughter, Kayla. Mary was preceded in death by her son Randy in 2011, and is survived by her husband Arthur, her sons Eric and Sandy (and partner Eric Poole), and by her beloved sister Susie Chavez (and husband Gilbert Chavez).

A funeral mass for Mary will be held Friday, August 22, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 10191 Central Ave, Montclair, CA 91763. Following the funeral mass will be a graveside service from 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM at Bellevue Memorial Park, 1240 W G St, Ontario, CA 91762.