May 26, 1923 – June 22, 2024
My paternal grandmother lived a long and amazing life. Mary Schevchik was born on May 26, 1923 in Donora, Pennsylvania. She entered school during the Great Depression and left home at 18 to search for wartime employment in California. She became welder in the navy shipyards. It was at Moore’s Shipyard in Oakland, California that she met my grandfather Frank Torres. Frank, who was actually her boss, and Mary fell in love got married and then started a family after the war ended.
While Frank continued working at shipyards, Mary Torres become a housewife, mother to two sons and an investor. After turning profits in the stock market, Mary and Frank purchased a bowling alley in Fremont. They later sold their share of the bowling alley and Mary became a beautician and owner of her own beauty salon.
Family and traditions were very important to Mary. Growing up, I have fond memories of eating Kolaches at Russian Christmas in honor of her Schevchik roots and at other times enjoying Portuguese Sopas to honor the Torres heritage. Her love for hosting family parties extended beyond Russian or Portuguese holidays and my Grandma Mary threw the best parties at her home in San Leandro, California. Her parties were big family gatherings known for food, laughter and games for special prizes.
My Grandpa Frank passed away in 2004. After being married to Frank for 62 years Mary was alone for the first time since leaving home at 18. I made a point of calling her every week or anytime I was stuck in traffic. We would talk for hours and she would share the stories of her life. During our conversations, I remember half jokingly suggesting that she should right a book. In later conversations, I encouraged her to finish her book entitled “My Journey Through Life.”
While writing her life’s story she was also volunteering in the church office. One day, someone at the church saw what she was writing and exclaimed, “Mary! You’re a Rosie the Riveter.” Before she knew it, Mary had a new calling, she traveled to the Rosie the Riveter National Historic Park in Richmond every week as well as to schools and events all over the Bay Area to represent the Rosies. My grandmother enjoyed the attention she received from being a Rosie. Suddenly, she wasn’t lonely and always had new stories to share.
Mary believed she was guided in life by a guardian angel. As the leader of a large extended family, she became the incarnation of her guardian angel. All of us knew we could go to her with our troubles. Her wisdom, prayers and a little financial assistance almost always made our big troubles magically disappear.
Mary Torres died on June 22, 2024 at the age of 101. A large contingent of family and some friends attended her funeral service. In true Mary spirit, on the way out the door everyone in attendance received one of her hand crocheted crosses. Mary Torres was always a giver and even in death, she made sure everyone left her funeral with a gift.
…loved reading about your Grandmother Mary; a valuable member of The Greatest Generation…
I met your grandmother during a visit to the museum one day. I pulled up a chair at the table she was at, to listen to her story. It was an honor to be there with her. I didn’t want to leave. I think she could tell how interested I was, so she suggested that I take home her autobiography. So I did, I repeatedly visited her at the museum and had lunch with her at Assemble Restaurant. One time she needed a ride to Bart, but since she had a big porcelin doll, (a gift I gave her earlier that day) I offered to drive her from the museum to her car at the Bart station in San Leandro. She named her doll, “Marinka”, which is Mary in Russian, she told me. She admitted, that she didn’t have any dolls growing up, so she was very touched to have this doll then. And she thought the doll was very beautiful. I wish I had taken her picture with the doll. During an earlier visit she gave my daughter and I hand knitted beanies. I have a couple of pictures I could send you. I have saved all of her letters too, as I became a pen pal, between 2019- 2023. I miss her sweet personality and her “go get’em” attitude!
My family knew Mary most of my life…my dad played guitar with Doug and taught at the music studio. She and Frank meant the world to me growing up. There are so many great memories. Life happened and we lost touch but when I moved back to California, my dad and I would go see her. Last time I saw her was when my dad passed but I kept in touch pretty regularly with her and Jeff until last year. I think of her all the time…she will be very missed. With love, Staci Souza Mead
I also taught guitar there and remember your dad Jerry well. Doug was my first teacher at Music Unlimited 1964. Later I took lessons from the Torres home and met Frank. Mary was like a second mom to me and was sooo patient as I was always late to my Saturday morning teaching classes on Anita in Castro Valley. She called me and sang God Bless America in perfect pitch at…..
Age 100!
No better role model in my 73 years.