With great sadness we announce that Mary Jane Quaresma, beloved wife, sister, aunt, mother, and grandmother died Thursday the 13th of April at Kaiser Hospital in Oakland, CA.

Born in 1939 in Sacramento, CA, Mary spent much of her childhood in Alameda, CA, where she attended Mastick Elementary School and Encinal High School, class of 1957.  Mary received a Bachelor of Arts in Education from San Francisco State University in 1962, and a Master’s in Education from University of San Francisco in 1973.

Mary taught elementary school in the San Leandro Unified School District, starting at James Monroe Elementary School in 1962, where she was also a Vice Principal, and finally at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School until 1998 where she retired after teaching for 36 years.  Mary taught every grade from 2nd to 7th, but spent the most time teaching 4th.

Mary married her beloved husband Manuel in 1963 at St. Barnabas Catholic Church in Alameda, and they remained married for 53 wonderful years, which included the birth of their son John in 1980.

Mary had a deep passion for music, and she belonged to many choirs over the years, including choirs at St. Lawrence O’Toole Church (where she was a long-time parishioner) and the California Retired Teachers Association.  She loved socializing with friends and family, and was a long time member and former chapter President of the Delta Kappa Gamma teacher’s sorority. 

Mary loved cooking, hosting, decorating, and giving tours to visitors from out of town.  She was a free spirit who brought sunshine into the life of everyone who had the privilege of spending time with her.

She is survived by her husband Manuel Quaresma, her sister Candida Graves, her son John Quaresma, and her two lovely grandchildren.  She is also survived by 2 nieces, 3 nephews, 7 grand-nieces, and 6 grand-nephews.

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