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.
