Mary O. De Leon was born on April 26, 1926 in El Monte, California to Rafael and Quirina Ortiz. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Mary was a women of faith who could be caught at anytime with a prayer in one hand and a candle in the other. She served as a member of The Guadalupana Society at Cristo Rey Catholic Church in Malaga, CA. She was a very hardworking woman, she migrated with her parents throughout the Central Valley following the harvest. One of her most memorable moments was when her sister Ramona and her were both employed at the Garlic Gentry in Gilroy, CA. Shortly after returning back to Fresno one of her proudest would become one that had many memories that were shared over the years. She along with her husband Moises De Leon had the opportunity to own and operate her parent’s Grocery Store on the corner of North and Cherry for 6 years.
Mary worked in food service for Sanger Unified School District for over 17 years and retired in 1991. Mary loved spending time with family and celebrated numerous celebrations in her home. Mary enjoyed the outdoors where she would spend a lot of time planting and gardening on her ranch. Mary loved to travel she planned and prepared for many fishing trips to Morro Bay and camping many nights at Wishon and Dinky Creek all for the love of her family. She enjoyed her life as she lived it. She felt very beyond blessed to always have had the guidance of her parents and to have been happily married to her husband of 60 years. She took pride in all she did but one of the biggest and proudest roles of her life was being a wife and mother.
She passed away peacefully with her family by her side on September 4, 2018.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband Moises G. De Leon Sr. and 6 sisters; Ramona Mora, Carmen Martinez, Eulalia Villarreal, Lupe English, Phyllis Martinez and Josie Vera. She is survived by her daughters and son-in-laws, Belia and Bill Rodriguez, and Alice and Louie Jacinto; son Moses De Leon Jr. and daughter-in-law, Beatrice; 10 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and 4 great great-grandchildren, and by her sister Jennie Rodriguez and two brothers; Ralph and Tony Ortiz.
Visitation will be held at Palm La Paz Funeral Home on Thursday, September 13, 2018 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., Recitation of the Rosary will begin on Thursday, September 13, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Anthony Mary Claret Catholic Church at 2494 S. Chestnut Ave., Fresno CA 93725. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Anthony Mary Claret Catholic Church on Friday, September 14, 2018 at 10:00 a.m.
Interment will follow at Fresno Memorial Gardens, 175 S. Cornelia Fresno, CA 93706.
Reception celebration and tribute to reflect Mary De Leon's life
CPDES/Portuguese Hall 172 W. Jefferson Ave. Fresno, CA 93706.
