Mary Lou Galagaza

Mom embraced her spirituality with child-like wonder . . . always believing, never doubting Gods love for her. Mom was always laughing and hugging. She LOVED to dance, enjoy a glass of wine and sing. She was a Steelers fan. She enjoyed long hours soaking in the tub and talking on the phone to her friends and family. She loved coffee, salads, frozen yogurt, ice-cream and shopping for a bargain! She lit up the room when she entered and was always missed when she left. She did not ever say an unkind word about anyone! She loved her family and would enjoy preparing family meals and playing with the dogs and children present at the get-together. All birthdays required balloons and a cake to be properly celebrated! Mom worked hard all of her life, first as a counter-girl making ice-cream sodas, next as a receptionist for the phone company, then in traveling sales for Revlon and lastly, as a store manager for a large grocery chain. Mom rarely got angry . . . she was just "disappointed" . . . and you would only know it by her look. She never ever raised her voice or used profanity. Mom had a passion for teaching yoga, often working with new yoga students and recovering stroke patients. She was a wonderful and loving wife, mother and grandmother and very recently held her great grandson in her arms. She loved the beach, walking daily in the sand or along the Hermosa Beach bike trail, greeting people and animals with a big smile. Mom traveled extensively with her husband, Mike, and cherished sharing the many once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences with friends and the man she loved. Mom never knew a stranger, only people she hadn't met . . . yet. Our world has truly lost a shining star.