January 23, 1921 to February 19, 2006
85 years young
Mary went to a joyous reunion with her loving family who have anxiously awaited her arrival in Heaven. Meeting her there are her mother and father, Peter and Tonina Vitalich, her brother Sam Vitalich, her son Peter Jack Mardesich, and her grandchildren Kristina, Mark, and John.
She was a loving, caring, stubborn, and feisty Mother, Grandmother, Wife, and Friend. She was stubborn enough to outlive 3 husbands (Peter Mardesich, Charles Lake, and John Runyon), survive a serious gunshot wound, numerous bouts of pneumonia and COPD. Mary was always a hard worker and instilled in all her children and grandchildren a very strong work ethic (don't waste time sleeping when you could be up working or cleaning!)
She was the proud owner of Mary & John's Restaurant in West Seattle from April 1972 until retirement in May of 1992, when she and John moved to the Skagit Valley. Grama did not enjoy retirement and when grampa passed away in 1999, she began looking for another business to run, finding A Cup Above in Sedro-Woolley to be the perfect fit for her people skills.
Well or sick she always worried about everyone else. She never wanted to be cold, hungry or sick. Many of her customers became friends and surrogate children and she worried if she didn't see you for a day or two and would scold you if you went out of town or on vacation without letting her know first! She wasn't much for traveling, but always enjoyed hearing of everyone's travels.
In her younger days, she was selected to be Miss Everett and later was a professional singer with a band that regularly performed on KRKO radio in Everett. She was proud of her singing career and spoke of it often. Throughout her life she loved music, everything from Benny Goodman to Frank Sinatra to the Beatles to Madonna and Boy George! Grama loved to sing and dance and laugh and Oh!, what a flirt!
She is lovingly remembered by her children, Linda (Gary), Margaret (Leon), and Tony and by her grandchildren, Patsy, Michael, Karen, Lisa Marie, Lisa Lynne, Viviann, Richard, Carl, Danny, and Diallo. Also by her sisters, Lucy (Bill), Marie (Lee), and Nina, and her brothers, Louis (Jean), and Carl. She will be remembered also by her many nieces, nephews, and great-grandchildren.
Funeral Services will be Saturday, February 25, 2006 at 11:00AM at Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley with Mr. Ted Anderson officiating. Visitation will be Thursday and Friday from 9AM to 5PM at Lemley Chapel.
Share memories of Mary and sign the online guest register at www.lemleychapel.com
