ForeverMissed
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MaryAnne, our dear mother, friend, sister, Lita, cousin and wife passed on December 29th in her home, surrounded by her family. She was an amazing woman so many of you knew in so many different ways. She was fierce, smart, kind, strong, gentle, and filled with nothing you expect and everything you would hope for. The love that surrounds her is overwhelming and touching. While this time is for grieving, we would also like this to be a time of rejoice to have had her in our lives. We would love to see old photos, hear stories. Make us smile, make us laugh. Share the MaryAnne you knew and loved. This is just for us, friends and family, as a way to keep her close to our hearts and remember the wonderful times we've all had with her and what a bright powerful force she was in our lives.
January 3, 2021
January 3, 2021
We, Joep and I, met Mary Anne and Alfredo for the first time in 1990.
So we have known her and Alfredo for 30 years. Mary Anne treated us as first cousins (primos), although the family connection goes way back. Meeting her was always fun, lots of laughter but also serious discussions about politics and whatever. She was sincerely interested in our lives. Each visit with The Valencias was an enrichment of our lives. Numerous family reunions at their house, visiting Corbell's winery, walks by the lake, the seaside, in the woods, Christmas together in Florence (Italy), a stay in Yosemite NP are only some of the memories we cherish. We have made a selection from our photo collection. Mary Anne you are one in a million, miss you XX
January 2, 2021
January 2, 2021
Dear MaryAnne, you were quite a woman! Life dealt you a bunch of lemons (healthwise that is), but you always made lemonade out of them. Your spirit was always ebullient and positive. Your smile and laughter filled the room. You created beautiful art in so many ways, providing loving memories of you and your artistic eye. You loved Alfredo and he loved you; it was always evident even when we were mere kids! The love and devotion you and Alfredo shared and experienced would be the envy of any relationship, let alone one that lasted 51 years. Very few experience that kind of love, even puckering up for a sweet and tender kiss to the end. That love, shared with Lanea and Sabrina, shaped them into the strong, loving, wonderful women they are today. We celebrate you today and always with loving, fun-filled memories. May you rest in peace. 
December 30, 2020
December 30, 2020
My heart is cracked open with sorrow. Maryanne has been with me on this journey called life from the day of my birth.  I feel unable, at this time, to express how deep my love for my sweet sweet friend has always been.  I will miss her endlessly and for ever more.  Sweet dreams my beautiful sister. 

I always knew this song would be played for one of us - I just prayed it wouldn’t be her.
https://music.apple.com/us/album/goodbye-my-friend/1453839287?i=1453839755
December 30, 2020
December 30, 2020
I will never forget this special woman who I met when our daughters were in grade school. MaryAnne & Alfredo always have the best parties and we were always celebrating something :-) After moving back to Sonoma County in 2017, MaryAnne was one of the first friends I reached out to and she welcomed me with open arms. It's as if time stood still and we began again where we had left off. Friendships like that are priceless. We went down to the Women's March in her van with a van load of nasty women. We all dressed up like Rosie the Riveter and had a blast being bad asses. One of my favorite memories is driving around in the van looking at Christmas lights last year with Alftedo at the helm as MaryAnne and I ooo'd and awe'd at the lights with Christmas music blaring....and now she is with the Angels. 
Much Love my dear friend. I hold you in my heart forever. 
December 30, 2020
December 30, 2020
My heart is broken in hearing the news of my Beautiful Tia Mary Anne passing away. My Tia forever would light up a room with her beautiful smile and laughter. I thank her for all the beautiful memories and long chats we would have through out my childhood years in the 70's into my motherhood years. I will never forget when she let us spend the night back in 1982 and surprised my sister and I to took us to watch E.T the movie.  Growing up I always looked up to my Tia Mary Anne and Tio Alfredo I loved the way they loved each other! Along side of my parents I loved seeing that sparkle in my Tios eyes or how Alfredo would light up when he would tell us a story about my Tia. I'm sending big hugs and lots of love to my Tio Alfredo and my Primas Lanea and Sabrina and fam.  My Tia was always loved...never forgotten...and will be forever missed!  Love you! Adriana
December 30, 2020
December 30, 2020
When Mary Anne was born she became the apple of her dads eye. One of his favorite songs was, Mary Anne down by the seaside sifting sand. Even little girls love Mary Anne,,, i love you sissy.

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Recent Tributes
January 3, 2021
January 3, 2021
We, Joep and I, met Mary Anne and Alfredo for the first time in 1990.
So we have known her and Alfredo for 30 years. Mary Anne treated us as first cousins (primos), although the family connection goes way back. Meeting her was always fun, lots of laughter but also serious discussions about politics and whatever. She was sincerely interested in our lives. Each visit with The Valencias was an enrichment of our lives. Numerous family reunions at their house, visiting Corbell's winery, walks by the lake, the seaside, in the woods, Christmas together in Florence (Italy), a stay in Yosemite NP are only some of the memories we cherish. We have made a selection from our photo collection. Mary Anne you are one in a million, miss you XX
January 2, 2021
January 2, 2021
Dear MaryAnne, you were quite a woman! Life dealt you a bunch of lemons (healthwise that is), but you always made lemonade out of them. Your spirit was always ebullient and positive. Your smile and laughter filled the room. You created beautiful art in so many ways, providing loving memories of you and your artistic eye. You loved Alfredo and he loved you; it was always evident even when we were mere kids! The love and devotion you and Alfredo shared and experienced would be the envy of any relationship, let alone one that lasted 51 years. Very few experience that kind of love, even puckering up for a sweet and tender kiss to the end. That love, shared with Lanea and Sabrina, shaped them into the strong, loving, wonderful women they are today. We celebrate you today and always with loving, fun-filled memories. May you rest in peace. 
December 30, 2020
December 30, 2020
My heart is cracked open with sorrow. Maryanne has been with me on this journey called life from the day of my birth.  I feel unable, at this time, to express how deep my love for my sweet sweet friend has always been.  I will miss her endlessly and for ever more.  Sweet dreams my beautiful sister. 

I always knew this song would be played for one of us - I just prayed it wouldn’t be her.
https://music.apple.com/us/album/goodbye-my-friend/1453839287?i=1453839755
Her Life

An overall love to us all

December 29, 2020
It is unfair to try to sum up MaryAnne in a few simple paragraphs, sentences, or words. She backpacked Europe. She cursed when she drove. She protested. She hated when someone would playfully grab at her nose : ) She met the man who she would marry 51 years ago and still to the very last day, puckered up every time he told her he needed a kiss. She has 2 kids who adore her and one grandbaby that she couldn't get enough of. MaryAnne filled her house with color, art, creativity and love. She was the embodiment of fun. No one can deny that laughter was a big part of who she was. Seeing those big, beautiful, sparkling baby blue eyes that just seemed to glow along with her smile is something that sticks with a person. She has made such a huge impact in so many people’s lives it is hard to verbalize what she means to us all. She is love and loved. Thank you all for being a part of her life and we are certain she can feel your love.
Recent stories

Dear Lanea and Sabrina - Please send this to the proper place, I am not so good at social media

October 16, 2021
to lriley@benefitexperts.com

Hi Lanea,

 I don't know if this will reach you, it may not be a current address. This is Alex, Lea's mom.

I'm sorry we haven't kept in contact but you always have held a special place in my heart.

A few days ago I was  in Oliver's, I had my own worries on my mind and my head down. I noticed twice a beautiful and very well behaved standard poodle but I didn't look up. Once I was comfortably on line I was thinking that I hadn't seen such a nice dog since I saw your parent's outside of Peet's coffee once (probably years now but I have no sense of time). Then I quickly looked and of course it was your dad, Alfredo. I hoped to catch up to him when we had both got through the line but couldn't.

Then of course I thought "where's Mary-Anne?"  - with a sense of foreboding I looked up your mom's FB page and then got the sad news of her passing.

I am so sorry that she had to go through all that pain and I understand her wanting to be done with it. Please know how much all that knew her will miss her and she touched so many souls here on earth. I thank God for having met her. 

Please take care of yourself and if you ever want to reach me I'm in the same place. My cell is 707 291-5336

love to your dad and your sis

Alex

January 19, 2021
It all began with laughter…
Mary and I were in high-school together, our friendship deepened during very formative late-60s hippy years at DVC. She studied art as we worked, we marched, we played, and we partied with our sister crazy-ladies. There was art. We sold our wares at the first Martinez Art-in-the-Park in 1969. It became quite clear that she had honest-to-god talent. There was music. We went to Filmore a lot … I mean A LOT! We loved Janis and Grace. We saw Carlos Santana at the Concord Armory. We listened to Rolling Stones, Beatles, Beautiful Day, CSNY, Cheap Thrills …  There was fun with food … We were so pleased when we learned to make Chilaquiles. We had Bakers Tacos every day while she recovered from that nasty car accident on Highway 1. We had Top Dog in Berkeley, apple pie at Dave’s on Broadway …

One of the best vacations EVER has to be 2 weeks in Mexico with Mary Anne, Alfredo, Dianne, bf Jim, and Mary’s cousin Ed; exploring Playa del Carmen, Xel Ha, Sian Ka’an, X’caret, Gran Cenote, Tulum, Merida ... simply magical. We climbed Chichen Itza, I have a tiny little fear of heights… when I returned safely to the bottom, Mary was right there to catch me in a huge hug and an atta girl.

Mary attracted interesting people.If you were caught-up and welcomed into in her orbit you were gonna have a blast. You were also gonna get called on your BS.Mary didn’t tolerate intolerance, she had a firm moral compass and would speak up against injustice, intolerance, prejudice, and crap no matter the setting.

When she met Alfredo it was clear that they were destined to be together in the most fundamental and profound way.It’s hard not to resort to cliché: love for the ages, meant to be, soul-mates … all these things and more describe them. They proved true love and partnership during their remarkable 50++ years together.

My heart goes out to Alfredo, Sabrina, Lanea, Reegan and all of us who soldier on in a world with one less sparkling light.

…catch you on the flip-side my dear friend…

Dear fellow IBMer

January 14, 2021
I only knew MaryAnne through our N.Cal Kit group. Such a nice lady, wish I had known her better. Just a reminder to meet and visit otherswhen you can.
My deepest sympathy to MaryAnne’s Family. .

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