Mary Louise Dueñas

Mary L. Duenas passed away peacefully on March 20, 2023, at the age of 89. Loving mom, wife, sister, and grandmother, she was a graduate of UCSB, Class of 1955. She married her husband Joe, who was also a UCSB graduate, and were together for 56 years before his death in 2012.

Mary entered the teaching profession in 1973 and spent 20 years working for the ABC Unified School District, which included working at Killingsworth Junior High School (now Fedde Middle School) and Cerritos High School. She served as a lector for many years at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church and became a volunteer reader at the school’s pre-school.

Mary enjoyed family gatherings at the house during the holidays, reading, traveling, doing crossword puzzles, drinking her morning coffee, and talking about education and her family.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband Joe in 2012 and her oldest son Joe in 2021. She is survived by her children Albert (Cindy), Timothy, Ann, and Kathleen (Raul), eight grandchildren; and siblings Corrine Duenas and Alberta Hedstrom.

Funeral mass will be held on Saturday, April 15 at 12:30 pm at St. Cornelius Catholic Church 5500 E. Wardlow Rd., Long Beach