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| Mary Jane Garamendi 1921-2015 |
Mary Jane would often say "... I am a very lucky lady..." when she spoke of her many years of good health, her large and ever-growing family and her proud gold county heritage.
Mary Jane was a member of the "Greatest Generation", a World War II Army spouse, who exemplified the virtues of family, community and service.
She was born on Marcy 21, 1921 at Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley, thegranddaughter of Irish-Italian immigrants.
Her parents were Thomas and Kathryn Pitto McSorley. At the age of three, she suffered the loss of her mother and a newborn brother.
She, and her sister Anne, were raised on the ranch by their devoted father. Mary Jane attended and graduated from Mokelumne Hill Elementary School, Calaveras High School (Class of 1938) and from the University of Nevada Reno (Class of 1942) with a teaching credential for elementary and high school education.
At UNR Mary Jane met and later married her fellow student Raymond V. Garamendi. Following their graduations they spent the war years stationed at posts in California, Florida and Georgia, before moving back to Chili Gulch.
They built their family home on the Ranch and began their life raising their seven children and cattle. Following Ray's death in 1991, Mary Jane oversaw the family ranch along with her son Robert, allowing the working traditions to continue uninterrupted over one hundred and fifty years and spanning six generations.
The Garamendi home became a gathering place for both family and friends and the site of many family weddings and reunions.
Mary Jane's family was always her priority. However, she was also a tireless contributor to her community.
She engaged in countless civic affairs, including the Mokelumne Hill Elementary School Parents Club, Mokelumne Hill Community Club, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church Altar Society, the Calaveras County Historical Society, the Calaveras County Democratic Club and Central Committee, the Calaveras County AAUW, Mokelumne Hill Community Historial Trust, and the Mokelumne Hill History Society.
Over the years, she volunteered as a Cub Scout leader, a Catechism teacher, served as a foreman on the Calaveras Grand Jury, a Board Member of the Mark Twain St. Joseph Foundation, a volunteer with Calaveras Women's Shelter, the Mokelumne Hill History Center and as a docent at the Calaveras County Museum.
In 2014, Mary Jane was honored by the Pi Beta Phi Fraternity (Sorority) in recognition of 75 years of membership and named a member of the Diamond Arrow Society.
In 2009 she was named the State of California "Woman of the Year" by her son California Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi.
In 2005 the Garamendi McSorley Ranch received the California Agriculture Heritage Award, and the family was also honored by the Calaveras County Fair & Jumping Frog Jubilee for their significant contributions in education, agriculture and government.
All of her life Mary Jane worked to preserve her rich Italian-Irish heritage at the McSorley Ranch. Through her research and writings of the Pitto and McSorley family histories, she built an extensive archive of historic records and pictures that she generously shared with several local authors for publishing endeavors.
She also greatly enjoyed socializing with friends traveling around the world, actively engaging in politics and attending countless sporting events supporting her children and grandchildren.
Mary Jane was a member of a women's bridge club that met every month for over fifty years and was a self-described "terrible" bridge player, but love the monthly card games with her circle of dear friends. She was a devout Catholic and a lifelong parishioner of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Mokelumne HIll.
Mary Jane was predeceased by her husband, Raymond V. Garamendi, her son Thomas M. Garamendi, son-in-law Jimmie L. Beaver; sister-in-law Anna Birch, and brother-in-law Jack Murphy.
She is survived by her six children and their spouses; sons Congressman John Garamendi (Patricia) of Walnut Grove, Sam Garamendi (Denese) of Mokelumne Hill and Robert Garamendi (Christine) of Mokelumne HIll; and daughters Mary Anne Garamendi of Mokelumne Hill, Celeste Garamendi Connolly (Mark) of Tracy and Debra Garamendi McCartney (Kevin) of Washington, DC, and daughter in law Evan Garamendi of San Andreas.
Mary Jane will be forever remembered by her twenty-one adoring grandchildren and thirty-five great-grandchildren for her warm hugs and kisses, her wonderful Christmas parties and freezer full of popsicles waiting after summer swims.
Mary Jane leaves behind her sister Anne McSorley Murphy of Pasadena, brother-in-law Lee Birch of Ely, Nevada, childhood friend and cousin Barbara McSorley Pampanin of Santa Rosa, nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.
Special thanks to Mary Janes' devoted companions, Carol Oliver, Lucy Thein, Josie Flores, Lisa Bassett and Tari Birmingham. Also thank you to Dr. Randall Smart and Sonora Regional Home Health and Hospice.
A Funeral Mass will be held at the Garamendi McSorley Ranch at 5749 Hwy 49 in Mokelumne Hill on Mary Jane's 94th birthday, Saturday March 21, 2015 at 10 AM, followed by a graveside service at the Catholic Cemetery in Mokelumne Hill and reception back at the ranch at 1 PM.
A Memorial Fund is being established in Mary Jane's name to support the Annual California History Day held in Mokelumne Hill. This event for fourth grade students, combines Mary Jane's commitment to quality education, historic preservation abnd her pride in her hometown of Mokelumne Hill.Donations may be made in Mary Jane's name to the Mokelumne Hill Community Trust at P.O. Box 375 Mokelumne Hill, CA 95245 or to the charity of your choice.
San Andreas Memorial Chapel is handling arrangements.
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