Mary Teresa Dufour

March 1, 1925 - March 17, 2023

Loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother died peacefully at home in Jurupa Valley, surrounded by family on March 17, 2023. She was 98.

Mary, a first-generation Italian-American, was born March 1, 1925 in the little town of Guasti, California to Filippo Bianco and Natalina Chelini-Bianco. Growing up in an Italian speaking household and living in an agricultural community, Mary spoke only Italian and Spanish, not learning to speak English until she started school at age 5.

Mary, the middle of three children, with her older brother Mario and her younger brother Alex, all grew up helping out on the family farm, tending to crops and grapevines alike. She lived through the great depression where she learned how to make her resources last. Her younger brother Alex would often say she could “stretch a nickel into a dollar”.

During World War II, with both of her brothers off to the military, Mary worked at Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino, building wooden crates to ship military supplies to overseas. After the war, she opened “Mary’s Grocery” at the corner of Foothill Blvd and Rochester Ave. in Cucamonga, CA. This is where she developed her love of “working behind the counter”.

Mary later married Gerard “Charlie” Dufour and the pair purchased a brand-new home in Montclair in 1960. Their son Gary was born in 1963, and her husband Charlie unfortunately passed away only four months later in February 1964. Mary loved gardening and was especially proud of her roses that surrounded her front yard.

Mary continued her love of “working behind the counter”, working in the tasting room of Galleano Winery in Mira Loma for over 25 years until she retired in 1990. One of Mary’s proudest accomplishments was that she was able to raise her son Gary and pay off her house all on her own.

Mary was predeceased by her brothers Mario Bianco of Riverside, and Alex Bianco of Pope Valley, CA. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Gary and Lisa Dufour of Jurupa Valley, her grandson Gary Dufour II of Wildomar, CA, her grandson Dane Dufour of Wailuku, HI, her grandsons Logan and Robert Dufour of Jurupa Valley, her great granddaughter Makena Dufour of Wailuku, HI, her great grandson Maverick Dufour of Wildomar, CA; and many loving nieces and nephews.