MARY REGINA OWEN

Died October 1, 2010 at her home in Westlake Village, California. Mary Regina was born November 3 to Marguerite Evish Bray and Robert Bray in Panama, where Robert was working with the Army Corps of Engineers on the Panama Canal. As a child, Regina and her family lived in Virginia and North Carolina, and she had fond memories of visiting libraries and reading throughout her youth. At 16, after graduating from Deep Creek High School in Virginia, Regina moved to Glendale and enrolled in UCLA. Shortly after arriving in California, she was introduced to Richard "Dick" Owen, whose mother had volunteered to give Regina a ride to mass each week. In 1948, Regina and Dick were married, a union that lasted 56 years and produced six children - Richard, Marguerite, Christopher, Nancy, Mary and Theresa. Regina adored children, yet she was a sometimes unconventional mother, forgoing a practical station wagon in favor of sportier cars, which for years were emblazoned with personalized "REGINAO" license plates. Even so, she was active in her children's lives, at one point with six children attending five different Catholic schools in the San Fernando Valley. Throughout her life, Regina served her church and community, volunteering with Our Lady of Grace parish, the Ladies of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul and National Charity League of the San Fernando Valley (NCL). Her community service was a source of pride - including six NCL presentations - and lifelong friendships. Even when her energy declined due to heart issues later in life, Regina's feisty personality and desire to remain involved in her family's life persisted. She enjoyed traveling and took several trips to her birthplace in Panama, although she loved no spot in the world more than the view from the top of the Spanish Steps in Rome. Over the past few months, Regina traveled the state of California to visit family, and embarked on a cruise to Alaska with her six children, their spouses, and a couple of grandchildren. She loved the beach and frequently visited Carlsbad. A voracious reader, Regina took joy in frequent outings to the bookstore, and sharing what she'd read with her friends and family. She had eclectic taste in music and loved to rotate CDs on the stereo, which was as likely to be playing The Eagles as Tony Bennett. Even on her final day, she enjoyed the mental challenge of the New York Times crossword puzzle. Regina is survived by: her children, Richard, Jr. (Yolanda), Marguerite Edwards (Steve), Chris (Suzie), Nancy (Bud), Mary Smolarksi, and Theresa Wehmueller (Kurt); her grandchildren, Melissa Owen, Richard Owen III (Allison Pink), Katie Hiebert (Brent), Lauren Edwards, Christopher Owen, Jr. (Shannon), Elizabeth Owen (Steve Ganotis), Monica Davis (Kyle), Kelly Owen (Cedric Le Roux), Jennifer Dugandzic (Luka), Emily Cummings, George Cummings, Molly Cummings, Angela Smolarski, Thomas Smolarski, and Ryan Wehmueller; her great grandchildren, Winston Ortiz, Madalena Owen, Patrick, Heather and Andrew Davis, and Katia Dugandzic; her siblings, James Bray (Teddie), Betty Shofstall and Ted Bray; her niece, Anita Roe (Brian); and her great nephews, Alexander and Nathan. Services are planned for Friday, October 8, 2010, 10:00 a.m., at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church in Westlake Village. A reception celebrating her life will follow the mass at 11:30 a.m. in the adjacent parish hall, with interment at 2:00 p.m. at the San Fernando Mission Cemetery. A donation in lieu of flowers may be made in Regina's name to Catholic Charities, Mary Health of the Sick or Conejo Valley Women's Resource Center. Amidst their sadness and loss, Regina's family is reminded of her favorite phrase, Sursum Corda, which is taken from the Latin Mass and means, "Lift up your hearts." Together, we lift them up to the Lord, taking comfort in the knowledge that Regina has joined her mother, husband, granddaughter Erika Wehmueller and close friend, Father John Twomey.