Mary Carothers

After a courageous battle with B‐Cell Non‐Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Mary N. Carothers, the daughter of Albert Bryan and Mildred Murphy, passed away at the age of 87 on April 29, 2021. Mary was born in Pittsburgh PA on June 6, 1933. She was married to Donald Carothers in 1953 and lived in Pittsburgh until the family moved to San Mateo, CA in 1966. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of almost 30 years, Donald E. Carothers (in 1982), her grandson, Matthew Paone (in 2018) and her big brother, Miles Bryan (in 2020). Mary’s passing leaves enormous hole in the hearts of her surviving family – Kathleen Paone (Tim Paone) and grandsons Riley and Connor Paone; Karen McDonald (Steve McDonald) and grandsons Colin and Bryan McDonald; Margaret Carothers; Christine Chittick (David Chittick) and grandson, Benjamin Chittick and her only granddaughter, Amanda Chittick. She is also survived by five great‐ grandchildren, Ava McDonald, Hailey McDonald, Luke McDonald, Amelia “Millie” Chittick and Emmalynn “Emmi” Chittick. Mary repeatedly said she “lived a long and very happy life”. And she did. Throughout her life, she was devoted to her family and friends, her strong Catholic faith and to anyone she felt she could help. For many years, her grandchildren, and their multiple activities, were her passion. She enjoyed cheering on her grandchildren at countless soccer games, football games, baseball games, volleyball games, and robotics and academic competitions. She encouraged them, the same way she encouraged and supported each of her daughters in all their many interests and endeavors. Her constant encouragement and support produced four intelligent, successful, caring and compassionate women. Mary was a role model of strength and compassion. Her compassion played a huge role in the way she put her Catholic faith into practice. Among many other acts of service, she made and donated knitted hats to provide some small bit of comfort for the homeless and less fortunate. All who knew her, knew they were especially blessed when Mary “put you on the beads” as part of her many daily rosaries. Mary’s life changed dramatically when her husband, Don, died very suddenly at the age of 51. She was only 49. Their four daughters were “out of the nest” (or soon to be) and she so looked forward to the next chapter of their life together. Although it was extraordinarily difficult to “put one foot in front of the other” every day after Don’s passing, she did exactly that. Ultimately, she not only survived, she thrived. Mary said then what she would say to all of her family and friends now ‐‐ “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad”. Since moving to Sacramento in 2003, Mary was an active parishioner at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cathedral in her name.