Maria "Mary" de la Salud Andres

Mary was born in Algemesi, Valencia, Spain on March 21, 1946. When she was four years old, her family relocated to Remiremont, France. From there they emigrated to Canada in 1951, living in Quebec City for a year, before moving to Calgary, where the family met many other Spanish emigrés with whom they are still connected today. She attended school at St. Angela’s, St. Alphonsus, St. Mary’s, and St. Francis. After graduation she was employed as an executive assistant at Exchanger Sales and Service and the Tall Girl Shop. Retiring early to spend time helping her mother after her father’s death, Mary was able to enjoy her free time to the fullest. She loved travelling. In addition to visiting Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Barbados, Hawaii, and Disneyworld, she enjoyed many family RV vacations across both Canada and the US.

Mary was very devoted to her family. She and Vicky were not only sisters, but best friends who enjoyed many activities together. Mary was very proud of her Spanish heritage and loved to share stories of her numerous long-stay trips to Spain to visit and travel with her Spanish aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Together with her mom, she kept many of their familiar Spanish traditions alive. We will always cherish our memories of family get-togethers, when Mary prepared paellas valencianas over an open fire, homemade doughnuts for St. Joseph’s, 12 grapes to eat during the countdown to midnight on New Year’s Eve, mona for Easter, and post-Christmas fondues to commemorate her parents’ wedding anniversary.

We will miss Mary’s calm and cheerful disposition, friendliness, and helpfulness. She was always available for whatever we needed: airport drop-offs and pick-ups at any time of day or night, house-sitting, babysitting, pet-sitting, and driving to shopping and appointments.

Mary will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by her sister, Vicky Rojo; her brother and sister-in-law, Art and Myrna Andres; her nieces, Elissa Rojo, Angie (Jeff) Hunter, Lindsay (Evan) Slade; her nephew, Jared Andres (Cecilia Schlemm); grand-nieces, Eliana and Sofia Slade; as well as many cherished friends and cousins in Algemesí. She was predeceased by her parents, Arturo and Vicenta Andres, and her brother-in-law, Neme Rojo.

A Celebration of Mary’s Life will be held at Foster’s Garden Chapel (3220 - 4 Street NW, Calgary, Alberta) on Friday, September 19, 2025 at 9:00 am with visitation one hour prior to the service.

Mary will be interred at Edenbrook Cemetery, 24223 Township Road 242.

If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made directly to the Canadian Cancer Society or to a charity of your choice.