Mary Louise Potestio

The heavens have been blessed with another angel ever since Mary Louise Potestio passed away at the age of 83 on March 3, 2025, in her home as she was getting ready for work. Never retiring, but working until the end of her life, Mary was indeed a dependable hard- working lady. And work she did! She worked to help provide opportunities for her family of five daughters and to help supplement her husband’s income from farming. Growing up as the second child of eleven children, Mary learned those lessons of hard work, along with how to be financially savvy, the art of sacrifice, how to be creative and how to be content and enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Most importantly, though, she grew to know and love her Savior, Jesus Christ. This knowledge would shape who she was as a person throughout the entirety of her life. Living a clean life, with her only addiction being a tall glass of chocolate milk with crushed ice (that was her favorite). Mary married Dino Potestio on February 1, 1964. Their courtship began when Dino saw Mary’s legs from a window in California where he was stationed for the Army. The rest, as they say, is history. Never one to want the spotlight shone on her, Mary worked tirelessly behind the scenes to create a magical world for her family and others. Most notably was her ability to make and decorate beautiful birthday and wedding cakes, create and sew dance and Halloween costumes for her children, and her incredible talent that went into creating roadshows and decorating for church dances. Nothing was out of the realm of possibility for Mary’s imagination . . . from disassembling to reassembling a pioneer wagon so it would fit through the doors of a gym to creating a spiraling “Stairway to Heaven” in the center of the gym, from floor to ceiling. With the support and help of her husband, Dino, and friends and other family members, Mary’s dreams became reality and cherished memories that have been talked about for decades. Not all of Mary’s life was creativity and work, though. She endured many health battles that caused a lifetime of pain. From getting into a debilitating car accident when she was 18 years of age, to double hip replacements, double knee replacements, and a shoulder replacement, on top of surviving breast cancer and the surgeries and treatments she endured. She endured it all without complaint and she endured it well. Through all of this, Mary sacrificed. For years, she wore only one dress to church to ensure her five daughters had braces for their teeth, an opportunity to learn piano, take dance or voice lessons, play sports, buy their cheer uniforms, or gowns for pageants. She always put others before herself. Working a full-time job while also serving in her church, she prepared lessons and taught early morning seminary for four consecutive years. Ever being an example for good to the young and the old. Never wavering. As Mary didn’t like a lot of pomp and circumstance, she requested no funeral services to be held. Her only desires were to be cremated and for her family to go out to dinner together. She was attended to by her family and cremated on March 7, 2025. If you would like to honor Mary and the valiant life she lived, look around you and serve others. Even a simple act of kindness can have a lasting effect. “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.” Matt 5:9 (KJV) Mary was proceeded in death by both of her parents, 1 sister (her husband), 1 brother, 5 sisters-in-law and 6 brothers-in-law. Mary is survived by her husband, Alfredo Dino Potestio, her 5 daughters and 2 sons-in-law, Tori Potestio, Tobi Potestio, Gina Drummond (Grant), Gigi Potestio, Joie Spencer (Jeff), 13 grandchildren, 3 granddaughters-in-law and 2 great-grandchildren. Until we meet again, Mary, we love you and look forward to reuniting with you in heaven where we will once again hear your chuckle turn into an infectious laughter where no smile can be restrained by all who hear it.

Mary Louise Potestio

April 15, 1941 - March 3, 2025