Mary O. Cruz

virus. Mary was born as one of four siblings in Garden Grove, California on April 24, 1935, to

Marcos Ortega and Trini (Espinosa) Ortega.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Joseph Cruz, a son Edward Cruz and two

brothers, Eddie and Willie Ortega. She leaves behind a daughter, Angela Hernandez (Ephren

Hernandez) of Hanford; a son, Albert Cruz (Tisha Renner-Cruz) of San Francisco; a grandson

Matthew Verhage of Hanford and a brother Mark Ortega of Lancaster, California.

Mary lived in Hanford for the last 67 years where she was a caregiver throughout her life. She

worked as a certified nursing assistant and also as a nanny to a young family for many

years. Having lost her own mother at a young age, she learned to be independent early in life

and was a talented self-taught cook. Mary loved cooking for her family and friends by whom

she will be greatly missed. Her fondness of gardening and animals was inherited by many

members of her family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her honor to the American Diabetes Association. A memorial service will be planned for a later time.