Mary R. Banales

Mary was born on March 6, 1924, in Arden Nevada near Las Vegas and lived her childhood in the small town of Tonopah with her parents, Ascencion and Antonia Robles and her eight siblings (one sister and seven brothers). The Robles family were a remarkably close-knit family and always worked together to make their lives a happy and fulfilling one. Like her siblings before her, at age 12 she started working. Mary was a young and devoted daughter who helped her mother care for their home and worked a full-time job to help support the household. From sunrise until the sun set, she worked hard. Handed big responsibilities at an early age, she managed to endure the demanding workload from the tenacity and faith that came from her Catholic upbringing.

As years passed, Ascencion and Antonia realized it was time to pursue a more lucrative and stable form of employment to establish security for their family. Ascencion, being the sole provider for the family, was a miner by trade and worked the mines in Tonopah. For a time, they lived in Jackson California where he worked at The Kennedy Gold Mine, but after working at numerous sites they finally moved to the agricultural community of Castroville California in the Monterey Bay Area. They found work, purchased a home on Preston Street and settled into the neighborhood. Mary and her siblings lived their youthful years in Castroville and once employed they too contributed financially to the household.

Monterey County’s main employment was in agriculture, either working in the fields or the packing sheds. Her first job was working in the fields and eventually obtained work in the sheds. Work in the fields required Mary to start the day before the sun was up and finish at sunset. It was cold, wet and back breaking work but she never complained and stayed until she was of age to work in the packing sheds. Or so they thought. She was actually younger than the required age to work there but was hired regardless as she had kinda fibbed about how old she was and, of course, was never asked to verify it.

Mary worked a few miles from home and relied on others to get her there. She didn't drive so her brothers or friends would drop her off on their way to work each day. One morning she learned her brothers were off and would not be going into work but suggested she take the car (a Plymouth). Without a clue how to operate a car, zero knowledge of shifting the gears and without a license she had good reason to be nervous but took the risk and drove. Able to get it started and fighting to get it into gear she was on the move. Driving down the road she was constantly stalling, jerking, weaving left to right and all the while trying to stay focused and optimistic that nothing or no one would get in her way. Arriving at work, she parked where she wouldn't have to back out since it could be a problem. She didn’t know how to put it into reverse yet. Thankfully, she arrived safely and in one piece.

On her way home, she again struggled to keep control of the car. As careful as she was, she unexpectedly veered into a ditch off the roadside. Thankfully, she was not injured and avoided any damage to the car. Worrying about what to do next, she noticed that she had landed near the home of the Castillo Family who were well known in Castroville. Fortunately, the brothers were home and came out to see if they could help.

The Castillo Brothers?

They were extremely hefty rotund gentlemen that weighed an unknown number of digits. No one knew for sure how much but there was speculation. They were high spirited guys who looked intimidating because of their size but were humbly compassionate and well liked. As a matter of fact, they were known as “Los Gordos” (a term of endearment) and because of their strength, the brothers could move or carry anything without exerting themselves. Superhuman you might say. So it seems Mary was lucky enough to have her accident near the brothers home. They were a unique pair and despite their size, they had a great reputation around town. Also, it’s been confirmed that Martin Castillo was a great jitter bug dancer. In spite of his size, it appeared he had the moves. Amazing! Who knew?

So, what happened next shouldn’t have been too surprising considering the source. Impressively strong, they lifted the car, carried it over and placed it back on the street without breaking a sweat. In disbelief, Mary’s jaw dropped. Obviously stunned she couldn’t believe it. Saved from embarrassment, she was grateful but still trying to shake off the shock. Luckily, moments after the car had been returned to the street, her brothers happen to be driving by and stopped to see if all was ok. Mary indicated that she spotted the Castillo Brothers and stopped to say hello. A little white lie but quick thinking. In conclusion, it was a trying day for Mary but thankfully she managed to survive it. She eventually learned to drive and did get her drivers license and if she ever shared her story with her brothers we’ll never know for sure. But, in as many times as this story had been told and after so many years, it’s likely they heard the story as well.

Mary made countless lifetime friends (she referred to them as compadres), but her best friends literally worked alongside her. They shopped together, went to the movies, and enjoyed going to the dances at the Castroville Community Center where they would gather to socialize and dance the night away. The dances were well known by the locals and was an open invitation for everyone in the Monterey County to come and join in. Although Mary usually went with her girlfriends, she also managed to bribe her brothers into letting her tag along as her parents would at times not allow her to go without a chaperone. It didn't take much effort to convince them simply because they knew she enjoyed going to the dances as much as they did and would without question keep watch over her from a distance. She always found a way to the community center where she enjoyed the music, the dancing, the company, and non-stop conversation with her friends. That was her idea of the perfect Saturday night and was the highlight of everyone's weekend. One evening a handsome young soldier caught Mary’s eye. He piqued her interest and wasted no time to find that his name was Manuel Banales and that he had just recently been (Honorably) discharged (May 1946) from his Military Service in the Army from WWII. She was smitten. They spent time together, got better acquainted and in time were exclusively a couple. Everyone knew they were meant to be together. Fate united them and followed their beautiful and romantic journey that lasted for the next 66 years. They fell in love and for the rest of their lives rarely left each other’s side.

Mary and Manuel married on Wednesday June 18, 1947. For their honeymoon they took a Greyhound bus to San Jose and stayed at the beautiful and well known DeAnza Hotel. Within a year, they started a family and in 1961, and four kids later, they decided to move to San Jose where they joined her brothers (Tony, John, Jess & Peter) who had also started new lives there. The Banales Family began to prosper. San Jose offered considerable opportunities such as new careers, a new home, relatives nearby, close friends and happiness. After countless jobs they found work they loved. Mary found her calling working for the Alum Rock School District and Manuel, who never missed a day, worked for Sears until they both retired.

For a few years Mary worked at San Jose State University working in the student union. At the time it was still known as San Jose State. It was a busy job, but she enjoyed the work and became close friends with the ladies she worked with. She carpooled with her next-door neighbor, Mrs. Stepp who also worked there and had recommended Mary for the SJS job. One morning Mrs. Stepp handed Mary her car keys and told her she was driving them to work. Mary was nervous because she had not driven since moving to San Jose. Mrs. Stepp wanted her to learn in case there came a time that she could not drive. Mary declined at first, was very reluctant but decided to drive them at least once a week. After building her confidence behind the wheel, she bought a new Ford Pinto Wagon, blue in color. It was the perfect commuter car for her.

Mary and Manuel worked full time, so the kids helped with the household chores every day after school. After a tiring day, Mary still prepared dinner every night for her family. On special nights it was a real treat when the kids would get to enjoy a Swanson's TV Dinner in front of the television set. They loved and appreciated her for all that she did. Mary was also a great cook. She prepared all the traditional Mexican dishes and always made fresh tortillas for the week. Eventually she mastered making tamales and today, in honor of her Legacy, her girls and ladies in their family keep the tradition by making them every Christmas. Even the husbands have given it a shot.

Mary always had a passion for education. She felt that teaching would have been her career choice had she finished school. Always regretful that she did not further her education as a young girl, she returned to school as an adult and loved it. She later discovered that a job opportunity had opened working for the Alum Rock School District with their elementary level classes. She applied for the teacher’s aide position, interviewed, and was hired full-time. She became a wonderful teacher’s aide (her favorite role) and a great asset to the teachers she worked for. Even without having teaching credentials, she was a natural and fell right into her new role. She learned all that she could from the teachers and in return they became confident with her knowledge of the structured classroom criteria. She worked primarily with students who needed extra help in their studies and was given the opportunity to work on her own without any reservation of her teaching abilities. She cared and stressed the importance of a good education. She enjoyed working with the kids and was instrumental in giving them positive reinforcement in their learning. Encouragement was key to their education, and she continually gave them constructive feedback and support in their studies. She tutored them until they would understand their lessons. It was always with purpose, patience, and a smile. After years of working for the school district, she retired in 1978. The administrators and teachers were incredibly grateful for her educational contribution, dedication, and loyal connection she maintained with her kids. She was fond of the staff and faculty who thanked her for her commitment and service but also expressed that she was the finest Teacher’s Aide ever.

Years later she again worked as an aide at St. Francis Cabrini School where Eric, Melissa, and Allyson (three of her grandchildren) had attended. Volunteering her time there she aided the teachers in the classrooms, worked in the office, and helped with yard duty. She embraced it all. Once more she had the opportunity to do what she loved. She took pleasure in collaborating with the teachers, working with the students, and assisting the staff. She loved every minute of her time there. - Her Dreams of Teaching Had Finally Come True!

HOBBIES - Besides her drive for education, she also enjoyed writing poetry and hoped to one day publish her collection of Spanish poems and limericks. Always with paper and pen at hand she was constantly writing something new. Her hobbies included: anything educational, sewing, crocheting, drafting poems, crafts, puzzles, crossword puzzles, watching Novellas, Wheel of Fortune, Dancing with the Stars, visiting relatives, and balancing her checkbook. Yes, really.

♥ CELEBRATION ♥ In 2013 they reached a major milestone when they celebrated their 66th Wedding Anniversary. Mary and Manuel had a wonderful life together. They started their future with a plan to buy a home, have a family, and live productive lives. With confidence and dedication, they managed to fulfill their dream. Never slowing down, they trusted that all would fall into place for them, and it did. After both retired, they continued to enjoy life as always. With family and friends.

Mary was a wonderful mother who loved her family unconditionally. She gave them hope, faith, advice, good values, and love that will last a lifetime. To have someone in your life who is as supportive and loving as any spiritual person could be, was Mary’s greatest gift to her family. She kept sincere belief in the Holy Bible, was religiously loyal to her favorite saints and always turned to our Lord for guidance. She had strong faith, worshipped the power of prayer, cherished the importance of family happiness, anointed herself daily with Blessed St. Jude oil and never ever went anywhere without her Rosary. For over 40 years, Mary was a steadfast parishioner of St. Francis Cabrini Church and when she could no longer attend Sunday mass, special arrangements were made for her to receive communion at home. Every week, Grace, her Eucharist Minister from St Francis, would come to the house to administer communion. She became a dear friend and confidante and looked forward to her visit every Monday. Mary was grateful and felt humbly blessed that her catholic obligations could still be fulfilled.

Mary was a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother. Blessed with unbelievable strength, a heart of gold, devoted to her faith and with the power of prayer she could take on anything. She was a true and genuine advocate of her Catholic religion. Sadly, her beautiful presence is a heartbreaking loss as we have all been touched by her in so many ways. She still puts a smile on our face when reminiscing of the countless memories created throughout her lifetime and more importantly, keeps her spirit alive.

The journey of a lifetime arrived with Mary’s welcome into the gates of heaven to continue her service with our Lord. Guiding her through the path of harmony are Family and Friends who anxiously have waited for her to come home. At last, she is reconnected with Manuel, the love of her life and is peacefully living in eternity with the precious ones she dearly missed. May their reunion be a heavenly celebration that will live on forever!

OUR TRIBUTE - Mom, you gave us your love, a lifetime of happiness and taught us that Faith is everything. Your devotion to God was strong, your wisdom of prayer was everlasting and as our Spirited Saint you stood tall in our eyes. We promise to keep your memory and spirit alive as we carry on your Celebration of Life. Thank you for giving us roots and being a wonderful and inspiring Mother. We could never put into words the admiration and respect we have for the special lady you were. And for our whole lives we've been truly thankful and honored to have called you MOM.

As you cross the gates of Heaven, remember you are missed today, tomorrow and forever and although we have been separated physically, faith and love have bound us eternally. We Love You Mom. Rest In Peace.

♪♪ Fill Our Hearts with Gladness, Take Away Our Sadness, Ease Our Troubles, That's What You Do ♪♪

EULOGY

by Allyson Banales (Granddaughter)

April 24, 2017

My name is Allyson, I am Mary's youngest granddaughter. First, I want to thank you all so much for being here today to celebrate her incredible life. It would mean a lot to her to see all of you here! Mary made it 93 years on this planet. Think about that...93 years, almost a century! She saw SO many things happen in her lifetime: the moon landing, television, the invention of the car! She saw the world change so much, but Mary was always consistent.

My grandma always wanted to pass on three things to her family: have faith, save money, and pursue education. As far as having faith, I don't think there's anyone out there who could top my grandma. As many of you might know, her favorite Saint was St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of impossible situations. She regularly donated to the Shrine of St. Jude in San Francisco, and always gave out little bottles of blessed St. Jude oil to family members and loved ones throughout the years. I don't know if any of you have seen the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" where the dad puts Windex on everything because it's a cure-all, that's basically our family with St. Jude oil. You're sick? Put on some St. Jude oil. You're going on vacation? Break out the St. Jude oil to put some on the car before you leave: My grandma even said it once brought someone out of a coma, so it clearly means a lot in our family. My grandpa always said he felt better after blessing himself with St. Jude oil, he'd say he was "all lubed up!" Additionally, she always sent petitions for people to the Church of the Miraculous Medal, and honestly, I'd be surprised if there was someone in this room who WASN'T personally enrolled by my grandma...probably multiple times. At one point, my grandpa was worried because she was donating so often that he said she must be trying to guarantee herself a straight shot to heaven! I'll tell you guys though I don't think she needed any help to get there, the woman was honestly a Saint.

Grandma also loved to tell stories. She had a story for everyone in her life, and she held onto them like a photo album, always ready to share them with others. There was the time where grandma gave my mom JoAnne the pinto station wagon and then caught her trying to trade it in at the dealership! Or when my cousin Melissa kept forgetting things at school here at SFC, so she used Melissa's allowance as gas money to teach her a lesson and Melissa called her "greedy"...but she never forgot anything at school again! Or even the time that my cousin Nick was counting some money and grandma asked, "oh wow, where'd you get all that?" and he innocently replied, "your purse, grandma!" Those memories brought her joy and laughter, which is why she loved to tell them so much.

Another thing that really brought her joy was learning. From the start, my grandma truly enjoyed school and loved to be there.

Unfortunately, she ended up leaving school at the age of twelve to work and help support the family. She always wanted to go back and finish her education but became discouraged later in life. She held numerous jobs in schools over the years, and really loved working with the children. Even though she was unable to get her high school diploma, we thought we would do something to help make that happen. With the help of Notre Dame High School's incredible staff, we were able to get an honorary high school diploma for grandma. It reads: Notre Dame San Jose hereby presents this Honorary Diploma to Mary R. Banales in honor of her passion for education and longtime dedication to Catholic schools. I wish she could be here to see it, but I know it would mean the world to her!

You know for everything that Mary went through and all the hardships she faced in her life she always had a positive attitude and unwavering faith. I've always heard people say that they're humbled by where they came from, but I don't think I really ever grasped that until recently. When I look at the people that came before me: Mary, Manuel, Tony, Jess, and so many others. People who started with absolutely nothing, who work tirelessly and sacrificed SO much to create better lives for their families and still found the energy to be so kind and generous to others...and I think. Wow, I get it. To see this petite little lady that for my whole life has just been "grandma" and to think where she started and all the things that she overcame, it truly is humbling. We in this family come from some STRONG people. We have no option but to be strong and carry on the legacy of Mary and the older generation. We owe it to ourselves and to them. Be kind. Have faith. Be strong. It's a part of who we are.

There's one more funny memory that I wanted to share with you all. My grandpa always called my grandma his Sleeping Beauty, which sounds super cheesy and romantic. What he REALLY meant, was that while he was an early riser, grandma did not get out of bed until 9 and not a MINUTE before. My grandpa would wake up, read the paper, cook breakfast, make some coffee, and THEN get sleeping beauty out of bed. So, Sleeping Beauty, you're now reunited with your prince charming! She's finally back with him, her parents, siblings, and loved ones up in Heaven. I like to think that her old friend Martin Castillo, who some of you may have known, is up there finally teaching her the jitterbug, because there's definitely a big fiesta going on up there, Mariachis and all!

Lastly, the family wanted to say a special thank you to my grandma's caregivers, Nau and Lua. They went above and beyond not only to provide amazing care for my grandma, but they really connected with her personally. Grandma loved you guys very much, trusted you 100%, and thought of you as part of her family.

We genuinely appreciate each and every one of you for being here and are honored to be celebrating Mary's life with all of you today.

Thank You.

† OBITUARY

Mary R. Banales, age 93 of San Jose California peacefully passed away on April 10th, 2017, with her family lovingly by her side. She precedes the passing of Manuel, her loving husband of 66 years. Surviving her are four children, John Banales Sr. (Silvia), Veronica Garcia, Sylvia Banales (Patrick) and JoAnne Hickey (Steve). Her five grandchildren, Stacey Wadsworth (Brent), Eric Garcia (Emily), Melissa Roman (Anthony), John Banales Jr., Allyson Banales and three great-grand dogs (Slinky, Frankie, and Minnie) and family and friends.

Her viewing will be at Oak Hill Funeral Home on Sunday, April 23rd from 10:00am - 9:00pm. The Requiem Mass will take place on Monday, April 24th at St. Frances Cabrini Church at 12:00pm with the final procession to Oak Hill Memorial Park at 1:00pm.

* * * * * * * * * *

Mary Robles Banales, age 93 of San Jose, California, peacefully passed away on Monday, April 10th, 2017, with her family lovingly by her side. She is preceded in death by Manuel Banales, her loving husband of 66 years. She is survived by her four children, John Banales, Sr. (Silvia), Veronica Garcia, Sylvia Banales (Patrick) and JoAnne Hickey (Steve). Her five grandchildren, Stacey Wadsworth (Brent), Eric Garcia (Emily), Melissa Roman (Anthony), John Banales, Jr., Allyson Banales and 3 great-grand dogs (Slinky, Frankie and Minnie) and many other family and friends.

Born in Arden near Las Vegas, Mary grew up in the small town of Tonopah, Nevada with her eight siblings (one sister and seven brothers) and her parents, Ascencion, and Antonia Robles. The Robles family were a remarkably close family and worked together to make their lives a happy and fulfilling one. As a young girl, Mary helped her mother care for the home and also began working at an early age to help support the household. With the additional responsibilities, she managed to sustain a demanding work load which she attributed to her incredible faith and devotion to her Catholic upbringing. She was a lady of strong faith, a believer in prayer and cherished the importance of family happiness. She was a devout Catholic who maintained genuine belief in the Holy Bible, was loyal to her favorite saints and always turned to our Lord for guidance. She was an active member of St. Francis Cabrini Church for over 20 years.

After a time, her parents decided to relocate to where there were better job opportunities. They moved to the town of Castroville California in the Monterey Bay area, where they settled down and planted their family roots. Many years later, Mary met the love of her life, Manuel Banales, who had recently returned home from his Military Service in the Army from WWII. The couple married on June 18,1947, started a family, and four kids later, in 1961 moved to San Jose California to start a new life. Within a brief time, life had prospered. San Jose brought many opportunities such as new careers, a new home, new friends, happiness, and plenty of relatives nearby. In 2013 they had reached a major milestone when they celebrated their 66th Wedding Anniversary. It had been an adventure and beautiful life for Mary and Manuel.

Mary always had a passion for education. She was always regretful that she did not further her education as a young girl. She did return to school as an adult and loved it. She discovered that a job opportunity was posted at the nearby school to work for the Alum Rock School District, working with their elementary level classes which she thoroughly enjoyed. She applied for the position and was hired. She became a wonderful teacher’s aide (her favorite role) and a great asset to the teachers she worked with. She cared very much for her students and stressed to them the importance of a good education. She enjoyed working with her kids and was instrumental in giving them positive reinforcement in their learning. In 1978, after many years with the school district, Mary retired.

Besides her drive for education, she also loved to write poetry and aspired of publishing her collection of Spanish poems and limericks. Always with paper and pen at hand she was always writing something new. Her hobbies included: sewing, drafting poems, crafts, puzzles, crossword puzzles, watching Wheel of Fortune and Dancing with the Stars, talking to family and friends on the phone, visiting relatives and, would you believe, balancing her checkbook.

She was a wonderful mother who loved her family unconditionally. She gave them hope, advice, good values, unwavering faith and most importantly the gift of love that will last forever. Being blessed to have a mother as amazing and caring as any wonderful person could be, is definitely the greatest gift of all. Now the gates of heaven have welcomed her, and she is living in eternity with those she has missed. Let the celebrating last forever.

Mary was a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother. Blessed with unbelievable strength, a heart of gold, devoted to her faith and with the power of prayer she could take on anything. Her beautiful presence will be dearly missed by her family and friends as we have all been touched by her in so many ways. She will always have a place in our hearts.

Her viewing will be at Oak Hill Funeral Home on Sunday, April 23rd from 10:00am - 9:00pm. The Requiem Mass will take place on Monday, April 24th at St. Frances Cabrini Church at 12:00pm with the final procession to Oak Hill Memorial Park at 1:00pm.