Marion Veronica Mays

November 22, 1941 – December 26, 2016

Marion Veronica (Barbieri) Mays passed away peacefully early in the morning on December 26, 2016. She was surrounded by her family. The eldest of three children, Marion, was born in Brooklyn, New York on November 22, 1941 to John and Mary Barbieri. She and her two sisters grew up in Brooklyn, where she attended parochial school, graduating from St. Brendan High School in 1959. Marion met her future husband, Michael Everett (Mickey) Mays, during the summer of 1961 and after two years of courtship, they were married on June 8, 1963, shortly after his graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy. For the next several years, she and Mickey traveled from duty station to duty station as their family grew to include four wonderful children. Marion was the granite foundation of her Navy family, never complaining about the lengthy ship deployments that often resulted in Mickey’s absence on their children’s birthday’s, holidays, and other important events. She was an amazing mother and wife always happiest with her children close at hand. As the mother of a special needs child, she was especially sensitive to children and young adults with disabilities always offering words of encouragement and compliments. Marion spent several years, after her children were school age, working for Coldwell Banker Real Estate Company, in their new agent training department. She also volunteered her time at the Sharp Grossmont Hospital, work she very much enjoyed. Following her husband’s retirement from the Navy, with their children grown and on their own, she and Mickey traveled to many places. Marion particularly enjoyed cruises to Alaska, the Mexican Riviera, the Panama Canal, the Caribbean, the Baltic, and European waterways. On many of these trips, some of their children were able to accompany her and Mickey, and on others, their good friends joined them. These occasions were marked by much laughter and revelry. Marion was predeceased by her parents and sister, Adrienne Barbieri. She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Mickey, daughters Katherine Rinehart (Mike), Barbara Garcia-Mays (Marisa), and Jennifer Dinkins (Dan), son Michael Everett Mays, Jr., grandchildren Ross and Nicole Rinehart, and Shai Garcia-Mays. Marion also leaves behind her youngest sister, Janet Vega (Carlos) of Nevada City, California. Private services were held at Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego on January 6, 2017.