Marie Thelma Macdonald

MONTEREY - Marie Thelma Macdonald passed away peacefully on March 21, 2014 after a long and wonderful life. Marie, known to friends as Thelma, was born in Los Angeles on February 26, 1928, to Roberto Malvido and Maria Teresa Ocampo Malvido. She grew up in Mexico City before relocating to Carmel with her mother, sister and step-father, Henry J. McCracken. Marie graduated from Carmel High School (1947) and Providence School of Nursing in Oakland. It was during nursing school that she met Colin Roderick "Rod" Macdonald at a St. Mary's College mixer. Marie and Rod were married at Carmel Mission in 1950, and they settled in Lafayette. In 1961, the family relocated to Kailua, Hawaii, and later to Sacramento and Pleasanton before settling in Carmel. Marie was predeceased by her parents, her step-father, her husband, her siblings (Bobby and Lily) and many other relatives. She is survived by her children: Penny (Cal) Popken of Petaluma, Colin (Linda) Macdonald of Carmel, Stephen (Francesca) Macdonald of Santa Cruz and Paul (Suzanne) Macdonald of Ukiah. Marie also leaves her grandchildren: Betsy Popken, Sara Popken (Jason Najera) and Alexandra Popken; Colin Macdonald (Stephanie), Will Hinks, Chelsea Doolan (Brian) and Kyle Macdonald; David, Christine, John, Elizabeth, Daniel and Andrew Macdonald. She is survived by her sisters-in-law, Rita Macdonald and Neneka Malvido and many relatives in California and Mexico. Marie enjoyed spending time with her family, entertaining and playing tennis. She loved to travel and was an accomplished cook. She had a black belt in shopping (pun intended) and she never missed a Macy's sale. Marie lived at Yankee Point and Quail Lodge for many years. She was as an extraordinarily compassionate registered nurse at Ave Maria Convalescent Hospital in Monterey before joining Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital, where she worked until retirement. She was active in the Carmel Mission Legion of Mary, Carmel Valley Tennis Club and The Red Cross. When her children were young, she volunteered in Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. Her family thanks her caregivers for their love and support, especially Tai Maposua, who helped Marie when she lived at home; and the wonderful staff at Ave Maria Assisted Living and Central Coast VNA Hospice, who assisted her in her final year. A Memorial Mass will be held in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel at Carmel Mission on Saturday, June 14, 2014 at 2:30 p.m. with a reception to follow. Donations in Marie's memory may be made to The Red Cross (redcross.org), the Alzheimer's Association (alz.org), Central Coast VNA Hospice (ccvna.org) or Carmel Mission (carmelmission.org).