Mary Louise (Garza) Pinedo

Mary Louise Pinedo, 83, of Santa Ana, CA, passed away on October 22, 2023. She was born on November 9, 1939, in Zacatecas, Mexico. Mary Louise was a vibrant and generous woman who lived life on her own terms.

Mary Louise is survived by her daughter Lorena, son-in-law Keith, grandson David, and granddaughter Mackenzie; and her son Abel and daughter-in-law Lisa. She cherished her family and her love for them was immeasurable.

Mary Louise had a passion for cooking and was well-known for her delicious meals. Family and friends always knew there would be something ready for sharing if and when they stopped by her house, and she enjoyed prepping and cooking for big family events.  The family top three - 1. Tamales de puerco, 2. Posole, 3. Corn chowder at Thanksgiving

During her career, Mary Louise dedicated over 30 years to serving the people of Orange County as an adjudicator in the Employment Development Department of the State of California. Her commitment and dedication to her work were exemplary. She enjoyed working with her co-workers, many of them became life long friends.

Mary Louise was a long-time member of St. Joseph's Church, and attended St. Joseph's School as a child.  When her children attended the school, she was an involved parent, where she actively participated in the Parish Finance Council and ran the hamburger booth at the parish bazaar for many years. She also attended Mater Dei High School (Class of ’59) and participated in an annual reunion with a close group of classmates every year.  Her faith was an integral part of her life, and she found solace and community within her church.

In her free time, Mary Louise loved to travel with friends and explore new places. She had the opportunity to visit Spain, Morocco, Portugal, the Caribbean, and the Panama Canal, as well as trips discovering California. Additionally, she frequently traveled to Mexico to visit family and discover the beauty of her home country. For many years, she enjoyed visiting her daughter and family in Boise, Idaho, and cherished the summer trips to McCall, Idaho.

A Funeral Mass will be held on December 19, 2023, at 10:00 am at St. Joseph's Church located at 727 Minter St., Santa Ana, CA 92701. Brown Colonial Mortuary, located at 204 W. 17th St., Santa Ana, CA 92706, will be assisting the family with the funeral arrangements.

Mary Louise Pinedo will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and all who knew her. Her legacy of love, generosity, and culinary expertise will live on in the hearts of those she touched.

If you would like to honor our mother, we hope you will select one of these two organizations. Both were important to her and she supported them for a long time.

The first is St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis, TN. She had two healthy children and two healthy grandchildren and was aware that not everyone was as fortunate. St. Jude was her favorite saint. To support St. Jude Children's, please go here: https://tinyurl.com/k86rkm7j

The second is St. Joseph's Indian School in Chamberlain, SD. For many years we donated Christmas boxes when we were kids, and she continued to support the school every year. To support St. Joseph's Indian School, please go here: https://tinyurl.com/3tafr9n7

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary Louise (Garza) Pinedo, please visit our floral store.