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BORN
1945
DIED
2025
Mary Antolini Obituary
November 24, 1945 - March 3, 2025
Mary Magdaline (Sanchez) Antolini, age 79, passed away peacefully at home on March 3, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born on November 24, 1945 in Arcata, California & graduated from Saint Bernard's High School with honors in 1963. She received a scholarship to earn her teaching credential from Humboldt State University & graduated with honors in 1967. In college, Mary was an exchange student at The University of Madrid & traveled all over Europe where her passion for travel led to several trips around the world with her husband, family & friends. Mary began her career teaching Spanish in Walnut Creek, CA, & teaching at Los Molinos Elementary School. She then spent 30 years of service with the Superior Court of CA, County of Sonoma, including several years at the Sonoma County Hospital & retiring as a Superior Court Judicial Assistant. Mary had an abundance of love & compassion for all living creatures & even had the rare ability of rescuing hummingbirds with her bare hands. Throughout the decades, she belonged to several animal welfare organizations. She & her husband fostered & adopted numerous dogs who became her beloved fur babies. Mary was an avid reader, adoring her book club & its members. She always had two or three books she'd be reading simultaneously & loved all literary genres - including having an extensive collection of cookbooks. She was very passionate about defending our U.S. Constitution, the rights of all human beings, & our planet. Mary loved having a good time whether it was attending events at one of her favorite wineries, yearly events at L.B.C., 6th Street Playhouse, live concerts, 49er games, or waiting in a 3-hour line with friends & family for Russian River Brewing Company's Pliny the Younger beer. Mary's favorite place on earth was spending hours walking through her property with her beloved dogs & gardening. Her passion for life & huge heart were always evident in the love she showed her family & friends. She always had a knack for letting everyone know how special & loved they were. As a loving wife of 27 years to Lawrence "Gary" Antolini, she always showed kindness & an abundance of patience. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Armando Sanchez Rosas & Bertha S. Yost; her sister, Amanda "Christina" Flynn; her brother, Frank Sanchez; & niece, Chrissy Woolley. Mary is survived by her husband, Lawrence G. "Gary" Antolini; brother, Jose "Ty" Sanchez (Twila); sisters, Tony Semore (Randy) & Bertha Sanchez (Ernie Fortin); half-siblings, Robert, Mark, Joey (Indy), & Ronnie (Michelle) Rosas & Annalicia Spannaus (Tracy); step-children, Nicole Antolini Dorsey (Sean) & Alexander Antolini; step-grandsons, Michael, Colin & Liam Dorsey & Victor & Roman Antolini; nieces & nephews, Michael, Michelle, Tyson (Tera) Sanchez, Megan Warren, Frank, & La Shawna Sanchez, Stephanie Holmes (David), Jonas & Anthony Semore, Stacy Gildersleeve (Jason), Collin Colby (Ben), & David Flynn; great-nieces & nephews, Amanda Sanchez, Tyler Vaughn-Sanchez (Loren), & Allie Sanchez, Miles Sanchez-Wixson, & Jacqueline & Joshua Holmes.
A Celebration of Mary's Life will be held at her home on June 14, 2025, for close friends & family. Please email: [email protected] for more information. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Redwood Gospel Mission or any dog rescue charity.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Mary Antolini
Traci Pickett
July 21, 2025
Sending my Condolences and Sending Love and light to the family.
Michael and Kirsten Wagner
June 13, 2025
Mary and I were classmates and close friends at St Bernard´s High School. She certainly lived an amazing life. My wife Kirsten and I would have loved to be more a part of her Santa Rosa world.
She was truly an exceptional lady.
Michael and Kirsten Wagner
Loretta Antolini Bracco
June 9, 2025
God Bless to the Antolini family
Dan Opel
March 28, 2025
Gary, So sorry to hear about Mary. I didn't know she was sick. I worked with her in the courts for over a decade as a bailiff for judge Gary Antolini.
It was a pleasure to have been her friend. She brightened everyones day. She is gone but not forgotten.
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Tom Katri
March 24, 2025
My condolences to Mary´s family. We were classmates and Mary was always a positive influence in my senior year as we shared a ride to school.
Sylvia Bushart
March 24, 2025
Dear Gary and family I am so very sad to hear that your precious , loving Mary has passed away...
I met Mary many years ago when I was taking care of Gary's parents...
To know Mary was to love her... Mary was so kind and loving and she had a heart of
gold...
Gary and family you are all in my prayers over your heart breaking loss. May your wonderful, loving memories of Mary soothe your grief...
Fondly,
Sylvia and Jerry Bushart
Sparks, Nevada
Kathy Vallee Andersen
March 23, 2025
Sending love to the family. Graduated from St. Bernard´s in 1963 with Mary and spent years with her. May she rest in peace.
Peggy Hayhurst Richardson
March 23, 2025
So sorry to hear of the passing of yet another classmate. My sincere sympathy to her family and hope the wonderful memories created with her are a comfort.
Yolanda Rivera
March 23, 2025
Our sincere condolences to all the Sanchez and Antolini family. Mary and I were childhood friends as well as classmates at St. Bernard´s and Humboldt . We were only 2 when our parents met each other at the Arcata Theater. Back then 1948, there were few Spanish speaking people, but my Dad overheard them speaking Spanish and proceeded to introduce himself, the rest is history.
Gary officiated my marriage to Cesar with Mary´s assistance. I´m only sorry we did not stay in touch these last few years but was always in contact with her Mother Bertha and her sister Toni and niece Stephanie.
My heart still breaks... Yolanda and Cesar Rivera
David Dunn
March 23, 2025
As a Sonoma County prosecutor for more than 25 years I had frequent contact with her. She was the best!
Kathy Doherty Buskirk
March 23, 2025
I am deeply saddened to hear about Mary's passing. She had an upbeat personality and an infectious laugh. Her keen sense of humor made her a joy to be around in the workplace. I´ve heard that she loved riding her tractor to mow the lawn, and that's a vision I want to cherish of her. My prayers are with her family during this difficult time.
Juli (Loveland) Thompson
March 23, 2025
I´m so sorry to hear about Mary´s passing. I worked with her at the courts for many years. She was a great lady! Condolences to Gary and Mary´s family.
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