Mary L. Quinonez

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Maria Luisa "Mary" del Castillo Quinonez, who passed peacefully on December 18th, 2024, at the age of 88. Mary, also known by family as "Licha", the youngest of eleven siblings, was born at one of the historic Los Campos farming camps located in Litchfield Park, Arizona to her parents Gabriel del Castillo and Guadalupe Ramirez del Castillo, immigrants from Sonora, Mexico.
Mary spent her formative years in Tolleson, Arizona where she was blessed to have her future sisters-in-law as her best friends. In 1954, she graduated from Tolleson Union High School where she was class salutatorian and played drums with the school's marching band. In 1958, she married her neighborhood sweetheart Manuel "Manny" Quinonez Jr. and raised three children while serving many years as a teacher's aide for the Roosevelt School District.
As Mary was a talented guitarist, she passed on her love of music to her children. She was active in sports and especially enjoyed softball and bowling.
An angel on earth, Mary was the protector of her family. Everyone she touched cherished her and her children's friends affectionately called her Mom Q. She was a gentle spirit who laughed frequently and loved unconditionally.
Mary is survived by her children Manuel III "Mannie" (Terry), Lisa, Louis (Michelle), her six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Along with her parents, she is preceded in death by Manny, her beloved husband of 65 years, and her siblings, Gustavo, Gabriel, Joaquin, Alberto, Isidoro, Fernando, Enrique, Miguel, Esperanza, and Mercedes.
A Rosary for Mary will be held at 10 AM followed by a mass at 10:30 AM on Monday December 30th, 2024, at the Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 13720 W Thomas Rd, Avondale, AZ 85392 with a family reception following afterward at Raul & Teresa's Restaurant at 519 W. Main St., Avondale. An interment ceremony will be held at the Goodyear Farms Historic Cemetery in the near future.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like to request donations be made to The BrightFocus Foundation/Alzheimer's Research which can be found online.