ForeverMissed
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Mary Evelyn O'Donovan Wolfe, aka Mima, passed away peacefully May 18th in her Santee home surrounded by family. Mary was born April 6, 1938 in Albany, NY but lived most of her life in San Diego. She was a devoted wife, mother and sister. As the daughter of Major James O'Donovan and Mary Evelyn O'Donovan, she is survived by her siblings James O’Donovan, William O’Donovan and Gail Unwin, her children Theresa Murray, Sheila Leyva, Julia Burns, Stanley Aguilar, Carlos Aguilar, Jennifer Tetrault, and Becky Vidaurri, her 21 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her soul mate and husband of 42 years, Dean Wolfe, as well as her sister Joanna Espana. She proudly dedicated 20 years of her life to Pacific Bell as an operator and staff associate in engineering. She diligently earned an associate degree from Cuyamaca College, where she perfected her Spanish speaking, much later in life. She was an avid admirer and collector of real estate and found great interest in the endless possibilities of Craigslist. She reveled in the occasional opportunity to splurge, get dolled up and hit the slots. Most of all she loved her family and made endless sacrifices to ensure our well-being. Her strong, loyal and selfless personality touched more lives than we can possibly know. She’s been such a tremendous part of our lives that it’s hard to imagine how we’ll continue in her absence, but because of her, we know that we’ll find the strength to carry on in a way that is worthy of her honor. We’d like to thank Dr. Cuomo and the team at Pulmonary Medicine for giving her the best quality of life possible and the precious time we had with her. We’d also like to thank the Vitas Hospice Nurses and staff for making her last days as comfortable as possible and helping us all through the process. A celebration of life will be held June 17th from 1pm-8pm at the Meadowbrook Mobile Home Park Clubhouse 8301 Mission Gorge Rd, Santee
May 18, 2023
May 18, 2023
Mom.
They say time heals, I am still waiting. It has been nine years and it hurts as as if it you left this world today.
Nothing is the same. Sending you heavenly hugs .
Miss you forever
April 7, 2023
April 7, 2023
Mom, Happy Heavenly Birthday.
Celebrating with all of your Heavenly family must have been amazing.
We all celebrated you in our own way.
I held you close in my heart throughout the day. So many memories flooding my mind. I laughed, I cried and just missed you so much more.
I love you
April 6, 2023
April 6, 2023
Mom,
Miss you every day, Happy Heaven Birthday
Please watch over us.
Love you
April 6, 2021
April 6, 2021
Dear Marilyn, a day doesn't go by that I treasure the memories we had growing up in San Diego. You were always there for me and we had the best of times. You would be so proud of your Family, they have all grown up to be productive and respectable kids. Such a blessing.
Love Ruth Green Placek
May 18, 2020
May 18, 2020
I love you Mom.
Six years is a very long time not to have you in my everyday life.
There are no words to describe how much I miss you.
Time is suppose to make the pain of missing you lessen. I truly want to believe that but, as of today, right this minute it is the biggest lie.
My heart physically hurts. There is no Tylenol, Motrin, Advil anything to make it go away.
You were an amazing Mom.
You never gave up. It wasn’t in your being to do so. No matter what you were faced with or determined to do.
You have passed that on to all of us.
Thank you

May 18, 2020
May 18, 2020
Dear Marilyn,
A day doesn't go by that I don't think of you and remember all the good times we had. I really miss you and all we had, but feel you are looking over my shoulder and encouraging me on.
Love, Ruth
April 6, 2020
April 6, 2020
Happy 82nd heavenly Birthday Mom,
It’s so hard not sharing it with you.
My heart hurts.
To say I miss you doesn’t touch on the pain of not having you here to see your incredible smile, hear your contagious laugh, to feel your amazing hugs, to cry on your never tiring shoulder, to just know everything was going to be ok just because you were there.
You are in my thoughts everyday. Time does not make it any easier.
Tears flow out of no where. Songs, particularly Rod Stewart play and I can not control my emotions. 
I am who I am because of you.
Your strength and perseverance was endless, as was the love for your family. 
I love you, ❤️
April 6, 2020
April 6, 2020
Hi Marilyn,
I miss you so very much! I feel your soul and friendship with me daily.
Your kindness, understanding and support mean so much. Love, Ruth
May 18, 2019
May 18, 2019
Mom,
It has been five years today that you met Dean and all your family waiting for you.
Not a day goes by that I don’t have a conversation with you and pour my heart out to you. There are tears, a lot of them but I always feel better,as usual. I miss so much.
I love you
April 6, 2019
April 6, 2019
Happy Birthday girl. Wish we could get on the dance floor and celebrate you!
Love, Ruth Placek
April 6, 2019
April 6, 2019
A day never goes by, that I don't think of you and miss you deeply. Wish I could talk to you and share things that are happening in todays world, I deeply miss your opinions and support. Life here just isn't the same.
You would be so proud of your kids, grandchildren and close friends.
We all miss and love you. It is comforting to feel that you are with friends and Dean. yet looking down on us and guiding us. No pain or worries for you.
Love, Ruth Placek
May 18, 2015
May 18, 2015
Mom, I miss you so much, it's been one year and I still cant believe you are gone. I wish you were still here, to talk to and hang out with. We miss you on our Tuesday's together, Olivia is growing up so fast!
I know you are having a good time with everyone, but I wish you were here. Love forever
May 18, 2015
May 18, 2015
Mom,
It is hard to believe it has been a whole year without you in my every day life. I miss the late night conversations. And how ypu always knew just what to say, even if at the time i didn't think so.
I am the woman i am today because of your love,wisdom, strength, encoragement and your love of all six of us. Thank you for loving me as much as you did.
April 21, 2015
April 21, 2015
Dear Mima,
   Since I regretfully didn't wish you a happy birthday, I wanted to do so now that I've finally gotten to this site. So, HAPPY BE-LATED BIRTHDAY MIMA!! I love you and miss you more than I can say. Better late than never. I heard a theory recently about that that I know you would like and make everyone else I think rest a little easier. Even after a loved one dies, we continue to love and miss them just as much as when they were alive. As years pass those feelings do NOT diminish. Regardless of your religious beliefs or what you think happens when you die, some see this as evidence that we will see our loved ones and friends again. That those feelings remain because we will be together again, somewhere, somehow.
April 6, 2015
April 6, 2015
Happy Birthday mom, I miss you and think of you all the time, certainly has made my life change. We celebrated your birthday and Easter with Auntie Gail's family and Uncle Bill, it was nice to be with the family, we missed you very much but know that you are with a lot of family and friends and having a good time. Watch over us, I love you !
April 6, 2015
April 6, 2015
Happy birthday Mima! We celebrated Easter with auntie gails family yesterday and I could tell you were there with us . It was a beautiful day surrounded by lots of family. I miss you everyday but I know you are with me and a part of my life, living in my amazing baby girl. She is already wanting to be organized and help me with my paperwork just like I did when I was little with you, it makes me smile :-) I love you and I hope you and grandpa are having a dance party in heaven! Xoxo
April 6, 2015
April 6, 2015
Happy birthday Mom.. I miss you every second of every day. Life will never be the same without you. I know there will be a day when we will see each other.
The first thought I had when I woke up this morning was to call you and wish you a happy birthday. I hate that I csn*t.
I am at peace knowing that you are watching over me and my family. We sure need it.
I love you Mom
January 26, 2015
January 26, 2015
Well it's a new year! 2015, I miss you everyday mom, please watch over me and my family, we need an angel to look out for us. always Love You mom
July 10, 2014
July 10, 2014
Dear Marilyn,
We will certainly miss you. We grew up together, faced hard times, the good with the bad and accepted the cards that God dealt for us.
My love and best wishes to your Family.  You were always a loyal, dedicated Wife, Mother, Grandmother and special Friend.
We will miss you, but you are in a better place without pain, sorrow
and the re-unitement with youir beloved Husband, Dean Wolfe Ruth
June 12, 2014
June 12, 2014
Hey mom,
Well yesterday was our Wednesday with Amy and Olivia, we miss you!

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May 18, 2023
May 18, 2023
Mom.
They say time heals, I am still waiting. It has been nine years and it hurts as as if it you left this world today.
Nothing is the same. Sending you heavenly hugs .
Miss you forever
April 7, 2023
April 7, 2023
Mom, Happy Heavenly Birthday.
Celebrating with all of your Heavenly family must have been amazing.
We all celebrated you in our own way.
I held you close in my heart throughout the day. So many memories flooding my mind. I laughed, I cried and just missed you so much more.
I love you
April 6, 2023
April 6, 2023
Mom,
Miss you every day, Happy Heaven Birthday
Please watch over us.
Love you
Recent stories

A year without Mima

April 6, 2015

Happy Birthday Mom. After almost a year I still catch myself wanting to call you and tell you my latest woe or my latest news. We all have made it through this past year but we're barely holding on. We need you here to hold us together. 

We celebrated Easter with Auntie Gail and her kids at Diana's yesterday.  Diana has a beautiful home and it was a wonderful day. We missed you. Stan and Jennifer were unable to be there too.

I  have decided to sell my house and naturally there has been problem after problem so needless to say I'm still working on it. Rod did some work on it and it is beautiful. Nick also refinished the floors and they look great too. Now I wish I could stay. 

Everyone is doing great and Ashely's wedding was beautiful.  You would of loved it.

I think of you every day and miss you more than ever. Nadine and I still walk 5 days a week and we both  share our favorite mima's stories all the time.  

Today is beautiful out I'm sure you would of wanted to go up to Viejas to celebrate your birthday.  Carla's birthday was Thursday and she won $900.00 on a scratcher. Can you believe that!

 I love you and I will talk to you later. ❤❤❤❤❤


June 10, 2014

How do you say goodbye to the person that brought you into this world? You don't. I can't. I love her dearly. She was hard headed, opinionated and stubborn. But I loved her.
I always thought she was crazy for having six kids and to this day don't know how she did it it, but she did. She was always there for each of us and our kids too. I was the first born and felt she should of stopped with me, or had only one or two more.  But five more kids REALLY! I'm glad she had each and every one of my siblings though because I cannot imagine my life without them.  
 Mom was there for all the milestones in my life, the birth of each of my girls, a divorce, the death of my children's father, the loss of my husband and the death of my father. And with her the the loss of Dean a wonderful stepfather  And till the end she would tell me "you can get through this". I asked her how? She told me "I will always be here for you to come to and cry to. I will always listen to you." And boy did I give her an earful.
She was always the first person I went to when I was excited. I still catch myself wanting to call her and tell her how funny Kennedy is. I won't be able to tell her about Dina's next kid moving on to highschool. Or able to share with her the latest wedding decoration I just finished for Ashely's wedding. Let alone tell her how thrilled I am about Andi's newest tattoo or piercing. 
I never took for granted how important she was to me or how much I loved her.

She never hung up a call without saying "I love you Terry" and I never failed to say "I love you Mom".   

My life is changed as life will do, however this time I have no one to tell me "you can get through this". But if I listen carefully I know she is whispering in my ear, I love you Terry

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