Mary Grace Hughes

July 4, 1928 — October 1, 2021

Born Mary Grace Hansell, on July 4, 1928 in San Francisco, she was raised in the Richmond district, the only child of George Henry and Mary Frances Hansell (nee Warren).

A lifelong Catholic, she attended parochial grade school and high school and was always involved in parish activities. She showed an early talent for, and interest in, ART and graduated from UC Berkeley with a Bachelors Degree in Art. While attending UC Berkeley, she was very active in her sorority, Phi Mu, and maintained her membership for life. Mary also met her future husband, James Redmond Hughes, while studying at UC Berkeley.

Mary and Jim, married in San Francisco on December 27, 1953. In the early days of their marriage, Mary worked in the Marketing Department of Macy’s S.F., creating newspaper advertisements, while Jim worked and went to dental school. Jim enlisted in the Army and the couple and their two oldest kids lived on Okinawa from 1956-1959. Their third child was born on the island. During this time, Mary & Jim traveled extensively, collecting art, jewelry and furnishings from the orient. Mary also studied Japanese cuisine and Ikebana (the traditional Japanese art of flower arranging). In 1959, Mary & Jim returned to California, fell in love with Pacific Grove, bought a home there and continued to raise their family.

Mary’s greatest accomplishment was being a Mom! She raised 5 children, Stephen, Lori, Kevin, David and Thomas. She immersed herself in ALL their activities!...Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, football, basketball, baseball, wrestling, track & field and swim meets, marching band, dance and music lessons, judo, roller skating...she was the bake sale queen, costume maker, birthday theme party planner and chauffeur extraordinaire!

When Mary’s youngest child was in high school, she returned to the work force and was a sign engraver (in wood, metal and plexiglass) for 24 years at Ernie’s Signs and Displays, a long-established Pacific Grove business.

Mary was an avid reader, crossword puzzle enthusiast and had a passion for piano and classical music. She was an officer and active member of the Monterey Peninsula Concert Association for many years. She was also very active with the Catholic Daughters of America at St. Angela Merici Catholic Church.

Mary will be greatly missed by her daughter, Lori (John); sons, David (Vickie), Thomas (Kristy) and daughter-in-law, Pam; 12 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. She is predeceased by her husband, James; sons, Stephen and Kevin and 3 infant grandsons.

A Catholic Funeral Mass, celebrating Mary’s life, will take place at 10:30am, Friday, October 29, 2021 at St. Angela Merici Catholic Church, 362 Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions will gratefully be received at Meals on Wheels, Monterey (Sally Griffin Center) 700 Jewell Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, Monterey Symphony, P.O. Box 7130, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 93921 or St. Angela Merici Catholic Church (address above).

The family thanks Paradise Villa Assisted Living, in Santa Cruz, for keeping Mary safe and happy during the Covid shutdown and Heartland Hospice for such gentle, respectful support and end-of-life care for Mary and the family.