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Mary Calarco Obituary
In the 1950s Mary worked at a popcorn factory in downtown San Francisco. In the 1960s she was a bar owner and bartender in San Francisco and Redwood City with her husband of 37 years, Joseph Castellano, who passed away in 1973. She later married Angelo Calarco and they spent most of the 19 years together in Fresno until his death in 1996.
Her family and friends will remember Mary as a wonderful giving and caring person who loved to dance and have fun. She always put others before herself. She enjoyed cooking, baking, was a great seamstress and looked forward to going to Reno with her friends and family.
Mary is survived by her daughter, Vera Brush and her husband Jack of Ukiah, Calif.; twin daughters Joann Baker and Diane Castellano and Adel Dixon, who was like a daughter to her, all of La Quinta, and her daughter, Sandi Castellano and her husband Kurt Himmler of Chico; grandchildren, John Brush, Vicki Rome, Stacey Kennedy, Garrett Smith and twins Eric Castellano and Jody Smith and great-grandchildren Cory, Desiré, Emma, Bodie, Briar, Nick, Bryce and Giovanni.
Mary will also be missed by her many nieces, nephews and friends.
Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service on July 8, 2005 at 2 p.m. at Brusie Funeral Home, 626 Broadway in Chico. Reception immediately follows at 739 San Antonio Drive, in Chico. Memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 780 Luther Drive, Paradise, CA 95969.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Mary Calarco
Sandra Castellano
June 24, 2023
Missing you so much. I hold on to all of our fun memories and that always puts a smile on my face. I love you Mama
DIANE CASTELLANO
June 24, 2022
STILL MISS YOU EVERYDAY OF MY LIFE. YOU WERE MY MAMA AND BEST FRIEND AND I WILL FOREVER LOVE YOU. UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN, YOUR DAUGHTER, DE DE
Jo Baker
June 24, 2022
Hi Mama,
I just went through and read all the wonderful things your family and friends wrote about you in your guest book. You sure were loved and missed by all! Your family is fine and doing good, I spent a lot of time with Dede and Dellie and we get our little trips to Colusa for a treat! You have been gone for 17 years which seems a lifetime :( Miss and love you, for ever and ever!
JoJo
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Jo Baker
June 24, 2021
Hi Mama,
Dede just sent me an email to read your memory book, with all the messages we have all sent since you left us.
Reading the messages, brought you right here, next to me in my home office.
I miss you so much and wish I could spend another day or longer with you, to hold you and tell you how much you are missed and loved. The only good thing about getting old, for me anyhow, is knowing I am getting closer to seeing you again........
I love you so much,
JoJo
Sandi Castellano
June 24, 2021
Hi MaMa,
Wish you were here so I can see your beautiful smile. I miss you so much and think of you all the time.
You would be proud of all your grandchildren and great grandchildren. I like to keep your memories alive and share them with the great grandchildren especially, since they were so young when you went to heaven.
I love you the whole world MaMa
Love your Cookie
DIANE CASTELLANO
June 24, 2021
Oh how I miss you Mama, today and everyday since 2005 when you joined God and our other family. I love you so much and at time I have found it difficult to actually say, you have left this earth. Never, never will you leave our hearts.
Loving Daughter, DeDe
DIANE CASTELLANO
June 24, 2019
She was the best Mother one could ever ask for! I think of her everyday and miss her so much. Love you Mama! De De
JO BAKER
July 3, 2006
Hi Mama, it is almost the 4th of July and was thinking about you and wanted to say "Hi".. Life is still very lonely here, without you. You are thought about every single day. Both Dede and I have your picture and we put it on the Keno machine when we gamble, and you are well known, with the staff at the Casino! You have also brought us luck, many time after displaying your photo :) I love you and miss you with all my heart...
Love, JoJo
Jo BAker
May 4, 2006
Hi Mama,
Well, just read the note Dede left for you and yes, it is very difficult here on earth, without you. We miss you more than words can say. Just wanted to wish you Happy Mother's Day and let you know you are ALWAYS in our thoughts, heart and memories..
Love you forever,
JoJo
DIANE CASTELLANO
May 2, 2006
MAMA,
FIRST MOTHERS DAY WITHOUT YOU AND IT IS ALSO YOUR TWINS BIRTHDAYS, SO BITTERSWEET DAY. LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND MISS YOU LIKE I CANNOT EVEN IMAGINE. SOMEDAY WE WILL ALL BE ON THE OTHER SIDE TOGETHER AND WE CAN DANCE, GAMBLE AND EAT ALL THE ITALIAN FOOD WE WANT WITHOUT EVEN GAINING A OUNCE!
LOVE YOU AND WHOLE WORLD AND BACK,
DE DE
JO BAKER
October 12, 2005
HI MAMA,
TODAY IS DADDY'S BIRTHDAY, A DAY I ALWAYS REMEMBER. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY AND BET YOU ARE HAPPY TO HAVE "GRACIE" BACK WITH YOU, AGAIN? I LOVE AND MISS YOU BOTH, BEYOND WORDS.......
LOVE,
JOJO
DIANE CASTELLANO
September 9, 2005
HI MAMA,
THINKING ABOUT YOU TODAY AND WANTED TO CHECK IN WITH YOU TO BE CERTAIN THEY ARE TAKING CARE OF YOU UP THERE.
GOING TO PLAY LET IT RIDE TODAY WITH JO AND DELLIE SO WISH US LUCK.
LOVING YOU WITH ALL MY HEART AND SOUL AND MISSING YOU TERRIBLY.
LOVE, DAUGHTER DE DE
Sandi Castellano
September 8, 2005
Today has been a difficult day for me. I miss my mom so very much. Sunday would have been her 91st birthday. One of my friends called me today to ask me how I dealt with my mom during her last couple of years because she is going through the same thing with her mom. What can I say? Sometimes I didn't know how to deal with it. I told her it is very hard and the sad thing is it just gets worse. You must take one day at a time and remember all the wonderful years you had with your mom. I will be there for my friend whenever she needs me. Unless you have cared for a loved one with memory loss, you have no idea what it is like.
I LOVE AND MISS YOU MOM AND WISH I COULD SEE YOU. Love you the Whole World, Sandi
DIANE CASTELLANO
September 4, 2005
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA. I JUST KNOW THAT YOU ARE CELEBRATING WITH DAD, ANGELO, NONI AND YOUR BROTHERS AND FRIENDS AND PROBABALY DANCING UP A STORM.
I MISS YOU SO MUCH EVERY DAY SINCE YOUR PASSING AND TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO BE WITH YOU ON YOUR BIRTHDAY SINCE I WAS BORN SO....FEEL A LITTLE SAD TODAY.
PLEASE KNOW THAT YOU ARE IN MY THOUGHTS TODAY AND EVERYDAY AND THAT I LOVE YOU THE WHOLE WORLD.
YOUR DAUGHTER, DE DE
JO BAKER
September 4, 2005
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA".....TODAY IS A VERY SPECIAL DAY, IT IS THE 91ST YEAR, OF THE DAY YOU WERE BORN. YOUR LOVE LIVES WITHIN OUR HEARTS AND WILL REMAIN THERE, UNTIL WE SEE YOU AGAIN. YOU ARE THOUGHT ABOUT AND MISSED, EVERY SINGLE MINUTE, OF EVERY SINGLE DAY. EVEN THOUGH I CANNOT REACH OUT AND HOLD YOU IN MY ARMS, TO WISH YOU A HAPPY BIRTHDAY, I CAN HOLD YOU CLOSE IN MY HEART AND MIND, AND KNOW YOU CAN HEAR MY WORDS? IT IS SO STRANGE NOT BEING ABLE TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL YOU :(
I LOVE AND MISS YOU SO MUCH,
JOJO
MAMA, EVERYONE IS SENDING THEIR LOVE AND SMILES!!
July 27, 2005
~MOM~ WE ALL LOVE AND MISS YOU~
Sandi Castellano
July 27, 2005
I feel very fortunate to have had such a caring mom who taught me how to love, laugh and appreciate all the wonderful things that life has to offer. I miss her very much but I know someday I will see her and we will laugh and dance and smile together once again. I want to thank everyone for your kindness. I know she has touched your heart as well.
All My Love, Sandi
JO BAKER
July 9, 2005
OUR MOTHER WAS A VERY SPECIAL LADY AND LOVED BY SO MANY FRIENDS, FAMILY AND STRANGER'S THAT WERE LUCKY TO MEET HER. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE THAT CAME TO SAY "GOOD BYE" TO MAMA. YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT, WAS WELL RECEIVED. AND TO MY BROTHER-IN LAW JACK, I KNOW MAMA HEARD YOUR PRAYER, AND LOVED IT AS MUCH AS I DID. I LOVE YOU ALL AND MAMA, I WILL KEEP YOU CLOSE IN MY HEART UNTIL I CAN HOLD YOU AGAIN..
I LOVE YOU,
JOJO
Mary Kay Moore
July 9, 2005
Diane, Jo and Del, may the wonderful memories held deep in your hearts help soothe your spirits at this difficult time. You and your family are in my thoughts.
BJ WILKINSON
July 8, 2005
JO, DIANE AND DEL:
MY THOUGHTS ARE WITH ALL OF YOU NOW DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME..I KNOW HOW LOVING AND CARING YOUR MOM WAS AND HOW MUCH YOU SHALL MISS HER, BUT HER MEMORY, LAUGHTER AND LOVE WILL REMAIN IN YOUR HEARTS FOREVER.
GOD BE WITH ALL OF YOU...
MY LOVE,
BJ WILKINSON
Marky Moore
July 8, 2005
Diane, Jo, Del and your entire family: thinking of you and sharing the thought that there is one more angel above us.
Jackie Wasserman
July 8, 2005
I am sorry I will not be with you to say "good-bye" to a lovely lady. With all of my heart I believe that our loved ones stay with us forever and are waiting for us on the other side. I can't think of anyone who loved her family more than Mary. The loving, happy, joyful Mary will be there to greet you all with open arms. My love and prayers to all of the Castellano family and adopted daughter Dellie.
Love,
Jackie Wasserman
Kelly DiCicco
July 6, 2005
I am Anna DiCicco's daughter in law. Anna is in Italy. On behalf of our whole family we send our deepest sympathies. We all loved Mary. She was so much fun to be around. She loved to play "scoba" with my in -laws. She will be missed.
Steve & Joanne Magarian
July 2, 2005
We've missed Mary's sweet, smiling face and wonderful hospitality ever since she left Fresno. She will be remembered fondly. We send her entire family our sincere condolences.
Karen Young
July 1, 2005
Vicky and John
Sorry to hear about your grandma. You and your family are in our prayers.
Ken and Karen Young and Girls
LISA HOGLUND
July 1, 2005
WHAT A GREAT LIFE SHE HAD AND SO MANY HEARTS AND SOULS SHE TOUCHED.......TWO LOVING MEN ARE NOW SHARING ETERNITY WITH HER.
Deborah Weimer
June 30, 2005
Dear Jo and Diane, I am so sorry to hear about your mom, and just wanted you to know you are in my thoughts. with love, Debbie
Patricia Marsala
June 30, 2005
This article is a truly loving tribute to your mom and my aunt.
Pat
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