Mary Madeline Messenger

Born on August 11, 1938 in Providence, RI as the only child to parents George and Madeline McWilliams, Mary spent her early years growing up on the East Coast. Her father worked on the shipyards, and the family moved between Providence and Boston. After High School Mary and her mother, Madeline, moved to Washington DC, where Mary took worked in a clerical position at the FBI.

It was in Washington DC, at a military dance, that Mary would meet her future husband, Charles. Charles served in the Marine Corps for more than 20 years, and during that time he and Mary would be stationed all over the U.S. including places like, Atlanta, Denver, and finally Camp Pendleton, CA. Mary and Charles were married on February 7, 1959, and would spend 51 happy years together as husband and wife. They had four beautiful children, Michael, Christopher, Scott and Alison.

A devoted wife and mother, Mary also dedicated the majority of her working years as a daycare provider. She ran her own daycare business out of her home for more than 20 years. She loved children, she loved helping others, and she was one of the kindest people to ever walk this earth. Mary also loved animals, especially cats. As a child she would find stray kittens on her way home from school and bring them back to her house with hopes of keeping them.

Mary also loved God and was a devout Catholic. She volunteered much of her time to her local parish, St. Mary's Star of the Sea Church. For several years she served on the church's guild, developing friendships, sharing her faith and providing a tremendous amount of service to both the church and local community.

Mary is preceded in death by her loving husband, Charles Messenger, and her mother and father, George and Madeline McWilliams. Mary is survived by her four children, Michael, Christopher, Scott and Alison and her seven grandchildren, Thomas, Laurel, Anna, Joshua, Emily, Wilbert and baby-to-be.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday October 27, 2016 at Eternal Hills Mortuary Chapel in Oceanside, California.