Remembering Marie Ann Mendoza

Our beloved daughter, sister and dear friend Marie left this life on Friday January 27, 2017. She was born in Fresno, California, on May 27, 1963.

She lived in California all of her life, growing up in Fresno and attended school beginning at Leif Ericson Elementary, Yosemite Junior High School, and C.L. McLane High School. She attended California State University, Fresno State graduating in 1986 with a Bachelor’s of Art degree majoring in Business Administration with a minor in Oenology. She moved to the Bay Area of Northern California and lived first in San Bruno before settling in Oakland, near Berkeley where her brother Steve lives, and just across the bay from her beloved San Francisco. Marie last worked in San Francisco for AT&T, and before that National Car Rental. Her first job in Fresno was at Round Table Pizza (where she got her younger brother Frank his first job). Marie found much joy volunteering and caring for the kittens and puppies at the Hopalong Animal Rescue in Oakland.

Marie loved music, especially of the 70’s and 80’s and was devoted to The Doobie Brothers—she attended many of their concerts throughout California over the years, and even got to go backstage and meet the band. Her last concert was to see Adele, who she loved and felt a close connection through her music. She was a fan-atic of the San Francisco Giants and so proud when they won the World Series in 2012 and 2014. Marie was also a hard-core member of the Raider Nation of the Oakland Raiders. And while she may have been anti-Yankees and Dodgers, she loved her family fans of both teams.

Marie is preceded in death by her loving mother Pauline Facio Mendoza and will rest in peace with her at Saint Peter’s Cemetery in Fresno, CA.

She is survived by beloved father Louis Mendoza of Fresno, loving brothers Steve of Berkeley and Frank of New York City, step-siblings Denise Stout of North Dakota, David Richardson of Fresno, Debbie Richardson of Los Angeles, and Doug Richardson of Fresno. She leaves behind many aunts, uncles and cousins, near and far, and dear life-long friends, fellow baseball fans, neighbors and work-mates. Marie treated everyone with love, kindness and always had a warm smile that matched her soul. We will love and miss our dear, sweet Marie.

A Memorial Service for all of Marie’s family and friends will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, February 18th, at Peace Lutheran Church, 4672 North Cedar Avenue, in Fresno.

A Bay area Memorial will also be held on Saturday, February 25 from 1:00 to 5:00 pm at the Berkeley City Club in Berkeley, CA, located at 2315 Durant Avenue.

Remembrances in her name may be made to The California Breast Cancer Research Program http://www.cbcrp.org or to Hopalong Animal Rescue https://www.hopalong.org/donate/