Mary L. Ponchetti
Old town Santa Maria resident Mary L. Ponchetti, 69, passed away Friday, April 22, 2011.
A memorial service will be held Monday, May 1st at 1:00pm at the Los Alamos Cemetery.
Mary was born April 27, 1941 in San Diego, California to Jullian Ponchetti and Deloris Liyola. Mary was a companionate and independent young girl who at an early age cared for her ailing father while sustaining herself.
Mary was a devout Christian and she dedicated her life to helping others. She was often altruistic to the point of putting others needs before her own.
Mary was a well known Santa Maria gal that was highly involved in her community. She helped organize the local business incubator program and was active in PTA and other community events and organizations. She also spent many years as a local real-estate agent.
Mary spent a great majority of her life in Santa Maria and will always be remembered as a great home town hero to those who knew her and to her family.
She is survived by her sons Steven, Joshua and Jonathan as well as her daughter Catherine.
Patti Corsby
Mary and I were childhood friends from 1946 thru high school and beyond. She stayed over at my house a lot. She was like family. My Dad, Roy, love to tease her, other friends, and my sister and I. We had a lot of fun in those days.
She grew up in the Catholic religion and was very devoted. Years later she became a born again Christian and was very enthused and active in the churches. She was a prayer warrior and ministered to people in need until her health began to deteriorate. She developed diabetes and one of her medications caused a brain seizure. She had to learn to talk again. Cancer struck and she fought a couragious battle. When the cancer spread to her brain she just wasn't herself. She lost her battle with cancer on Good Friday of 2011. So relieved that she is in heaven collecting her many rewards.