Mary Lula Bowman DePaoli

January 2, 1927 ~ October 27, 2011

Carmel ~ Mary L DePaoli, the youngest of ten children, was born and raised in Caddo Mills, Texas. She passed away at her home on October 27 after a brief illness. After graduating from high school Mary moved to Oklahoma City before moving to Salinas in 1950. There she married George DePaoli and they raised their five daughters. For the past 31 years Carmel has been her home.

Mary enjoyed painting, especially her beloved Beatrix Potter watercolors, and being a docent at the Carmel Mission where she loved to retell the history of the mission to its visitors. She was a great story and joke teller. Mary loved her time visiting and breakfasting at the Little Swiss Cafe in Carmel. She was a long time member of the Carmel Mission, the Nuestra Senora Del Carmel chapter of the order of the Carmelites, Discalced Secular, the Carmel Foundation and the Beatrix Potter Foundation.

Mary is survived by her daughters, Sandra Heath of Carmel, Sally (David) Eldredge of Salinas, Diane (Bob) Garren of Salinas, Debbie (Michael) Vollstedt of Salinas, and Molly (Brad) Johnson of Monterey. Her eleven grandchildren include Lauren and Hallie Heath, Brian, Alison and Jaclyn Eldredge, Zac Garren, Maddy, Molly and Michael Vollstedt and Nicolas and Grant Johnson. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, including Bill Norman of Salinas.

Mary's family wishes to thank her caregivers from VNA Hospice and Visiting Angels for the kind and gentle care they provided.

Visitation will take place at The Paul Mortuary in Pacific Grove this Thursday, November 3 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM with recitation of the Rosary at 6:00 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Carmel Mission Basilica this Friday, November 4 at 2:00 PM. Memorial contributions in Mary’s name are suggested to the Carmelite Monastery, 27601 Highway One, Carmel, 93923, the Carmel Mission Foundation, PO Box 221351, Carmel, 93922 or the Visiting Nurses Association, PO Box 2480, Monterey, 93942. Arrangements under the direction of The Paul Mortuary, Pacific Grove, CA.