Mary Ellen Ariani

1922 - 2023

Mary Ellen Ariani
January 14, 1922 - May 1, 2023
Mary Ellen Osborne Ariani, a San Mateo County resident for 74 years, passed peacefully on May 1, 2023 at 101 years young.
Beloved wife of Romolo Ariani for 51 years. Loving mother of two daughters: Margaret (Rick Mascitti) and Dianna (Juan Solari). Cherished grandmother of her only grandchild, Lukas Orr Baker.
A native of Weiser Idaho, Mary Ellen attended Roosevelt Jr. High School then the University of Oregon, in Eugene, Oregon.
She moved to San Francisco during WWII to work for the war effort, first in San Francisco, then in Washington D.C. for Counterintelligence, moving back to San Francisco to work for Standard Oil of California.
She joined many clubs but was a charter member of the Mills Estate Women's Club and one of its last surviving members.
Mary Ellen was an artist, studying at the SF Art Institute with Edna Van Koughnet, Francis Caine, Thomas Leighton, Shirley Ann Austin and Don Foster. She was best known for her miniature florals and landscapes and displayed her work at numerous galleries and boutiques.
She later worked with 'Elle of California' in wholesale jewelry design and sales.
Mary Ellen outlived most of her long-time friends but continued to find joy by developing new friendships with their sons and daughters.
Her joie de vivre and fun-loving spark will be missed by many.
Visitation at the Chapel of the Highlands, 194 Millwood Drive, Millbrae, on May 15, 2023 at 10:30 A.M. Burial at the Italian Cemetery, 540 F Street, Colma, at noon where family eulogies will be read.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Rosie the Riveter Trust, rosietheriveter.org/pages/make-a-donation, as Mary Ellen's mother was a Rosie the Riveter.