With a sparkle in her beautiful blue eyes, and the gift of joy, Mary blessed all that knew her, which includes her three children, Katie Gaebel (SPHS '73), Claire Cahill (SPHS '74), and Ted O'Connell (SPHS '75).  Her eight grandchildren, who she taught to body surf in the ocean, include Mary Kelly and Roger Gaebel, Katie, Mac, and Reed Cahill, and Tricia (O'Connell) Piper, Erin (O'Connell) Rasmussen, and Megan O'Connell.

Known as Mare to her family, she loved having fun with her two sons-in-law, and daughter-in-law, Rog Gaebel, Chip Cahill, and Leslie (Dumas) O'Connell and her loving brother JR (SPHS '49), who shared her passion for family and life.

Mary loved people, travel, laughter, and friends.  She was a long-time resident of South Pasadena and graduated from South Pasadena-San Marino High School, and spent a year at PCC before going to the University of Washington.  While living here she was active in the Pasadena Kappa Alumnae Association, Junior League, Seeders and Weeders (her garden club), South Pasadena Beautiful, Girl Scouts as a troop leader for both her girls, SPHS reunion committees, and the Huntington Library.  At Mary's core, she was a teacher and loved making a difference in children's lives.  While her children were growing up in South Pasadena she was a substitute teacher for the district and later taught at Oneonta and Monterey Hills Elementary Schools.

She loved the warm sunshine of Southern California and the beautiful sunsets over Lake Washington the last seven years.  Mary was born in Seattle, March 1, 1928 and passed away in her home in Kirkland, Washington on February 6, 2011.  She was preceded in death by her parents Catherine and Clair McCabe and her husband Tom O'Connell.  Mary will be joining her husband Tom to dance among the stars.

Pasadena Star-News, February 12, 2011