Mary Consuelo Valenzuela

Mary Valenzuela, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great great grandmother, passed away on December 7, 2025. She carried with her the love she gave so freely and the faith that guided her throughout her life. Born in Porterville, California, Mary spent most of her life in Granada Hills, where she built a legacy of strength, generosity, and unwavering devotion to her family. Mary worked hard most of her life and raised two daughters and later a granddaughter. She taught us to work for what we want, stand up for what we believe in, and, as she liked to say, “not take any shit from anyone.” She was our steady foundation, our example, and the matriarch who held generations together. Mary was a loving wife whose heart never stopped speaking of her husband. Even in her later years, her memories of him remained close and brought her comfort. Their love, their dancing, and the joy they shared stayed with her throughout her life. They spent many years camping together, creating some of their happiest memories under the trees and the stars. She faced tremendous loss in the passing of her husband, her daughter, her sister, and her brother, all of whom she loved deeply. How she remained strong after so much heartache is something we still admire. Her faith was her anchor. She prayed morning, afternoon, and night, served as a Eucharistic Minister, and participated in a prayer chain for many years. Her belief in God carried her through every season and shaped the way she loved others. Mary expressed her love through food, traditions, and time spent together. Her home was always open and warm and filled with good stories and even better meals. She cooked tamales, sopes, fideo, albondigas soup, cakes, cookies, pies, and anything she believed her family or guests would enjoy. She was an incredible baker and cake decorator, a passionate gardener, and she created beautiful flower arrangements for every occasion. To many friends and relatives, she was a second mother or grandmother, always welcoming others with a hug, a plate of food, and a place to belong. She loved music and dancing. She and Grandpa jitterbugged for years and brought life to every gathering. Her musical tastes ranged from the Glen Miller Band and Stevie Wonder to Andrea Bocelli, Vicente Fernandez, Michael Bublé, Celtic Thunder, and Linda Ronstadt. Mary was the heart of our family, the one who worked tirelessly for us, who loved hosting gatherings, and who never missed a chance to remind us how deeply she cared. Her love shaped us and will continue to guide us. She leaves behind her loving family, including Gloria, Elena, Soledad, Alexandria, Sage, Alec, Evan and Cameron, as well as many extended family members and friends whose lives she touched. She will be deeply missed, but her spirit remains in the lessons she taught, the meals she made, the prayers she offered, and the memories she created. Her legacy will continue through every life she shaped.

Tributes

Mary Consuelo Valenzuela

August 15, 1929 - December 7, 2025