Lompoc native Mary Ida Mullenary passed away on Sunday evening February 24, 2008 at Lompoc Hospital. She was 89 years old.


Born May 17, 1918 on the San Julian Ranch in Lompoc, Mary was the 6th of eight children of Pietro and Giovannina Rizzoli. She lived and worked on the family's dairy ranch while attending classes at the Jalama School. In 1938 she married Harry Alfred Mullenary and they bought a home in Lompoc, which is still in the family today.


In her late teens and twenties, Mary worked for Burpee Seed Company and eventually went on to be a cook in the diet kitchen at Lompoc Hospital for 35 years. She was a member of the La Purisima Catholic Church her entire life and a long time member of the Italian Catholic Federation. Mary enjoyed cooking dinner for the homeless, doing the rosary at the convalescent home, spending time with her grandchildren, and watching her "stories" on television every afternoon. She also baked a mean chocolate chip cookie and always had to refuse offers from people who wanted to buy her car.


Mary is survived by her two sons and their wives, Pete and Glynnis from Santa Ynez, Ca. and Howard and Carolyn from Simi Valley, Ca., her two grandchildren Michael from Santa Ynez, Ca and Brittany from Solvang, Ca and countless nieces, nephews, and friends.


Vigil services will be 7 pm Thursday, February 28, 2008 at Starbuck-Lind Mortuary, 123 North A St., Lompoc. A funeral mass will be held 10 a.m. Friday at La Purisima Catholic Church, 213 West Olive Avenue, with Rev. Tom Cook officiating. Burial will follow at Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery. Visitation hours will be Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the mortuary.


In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to the New Lompoc Hospital through the Lompoc Hospital Foundation at P.O. Box 883 Lompoc, CA 93438 in Mary Mullenary's name.