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In memory of

Mary Waite Crone

Castro Valley, CA, USA

July 5, 1924 - December 11, 2020

Jul 5, 1924 - Dec 11, 2020

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Mary Waite Crone, former resident of San Leandro for 70 years, died in Castro Valley, CA on December 11, 2020. Mary was born on July 5, 1924, at her home in East Los Angeles, CA to the late Galen and Rose Waite. She was the second of three children and is survived by her sister, Anna Jackson of Hemet, CA.
Mary grew up in Los Angeles, CA graduating from Catholic High School in 1942. She then went on to attend Los Angeles City College, taking pre-nursing courses and working at B.F. Goodrich, making deicers for airplanes during WWII. She then attended St. Joseph’s Nursing School in Orange, CA, where she studied to become a Registered Nurse and eventually finished her nursing degree in November of 1947 at the Marine Hospital in San Francisco as a surgical nurse. Mary then worked in the ER at Fairmont Hospital in San Leandro until October of 1948, returning to Fairmont Hospital in 1951 on a part-time basis, in between having children. She worked at Eden Hospital in Castro Valley on the orthopedic floor and intermittently at Doctor’s Hospital in San Leandro until 1962. She finished up her career at Hayward Rehabilitation Hospital and as a volunteer giving flu shots for the Public Health Department.
Mary was the beloved wife of the late John J. Crone for 72 years. She was preceded in death by her son, James Michael Crone and her brother, Martin Waite. Mary is survived by her seven children; Patricia Carroll (Thomas), Gail Simmons (Peter), Robert Crone (Susan), Rosemary Menard, Barbara Hemenez (William), Deborah Crone-Palio (Richard), Christopher Crone (Pamela), her 13 grandchildren, Jon Crone (Lisa), Roger Ficklin (Jennifer), Thomas Carroll (Nicole), Stephen Carroll (Tracy), Meegan Decker (Andy), Kerry Wynn (Marvin), Ryann Shoaf (Paul), Matthew Crone (Rebecca), David Sanford, Travis Hemenez (Carrie), Monica Hemenez, Kathryn Crone, Stephanie Crone and 19 great-grandchildren.
When Mary was young, she loved going to the movies and taking the cable car to the beach with her girlfriends. She learned to sew her own clothes, knit, crochet, and embroider at a young age, eventually making all of her daughter’s clothes as they were growing up and also taught them to sew. Later in life, Mary learned to quilt, and became an incredibly talented quilter. She took several local classes and became involved in a large quilt group.
The most famous thing Mary and her husband John did was building the Crone Family Cabin in Lake Mont Pines, Arnold, CA. They did this with the help of John’s brothers and many dear friends they met at St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic Church in San Leandro, CA.
Mary and John traveled the United States and cruised the world together – there were few places they had not been to. Mary and John were happiest at the Crone Cabin where they spent many weekends, summers and holidays with family and friends.
Mom loved to bake. We always had homemade desserts and our cookie jar was never empty! She was the most gracious hostess at our home in San Leandro and at the cabin in Arnold. Her life was about her husband, children, and friends. She was the beginning of the women’s movement to work and have children too. She loved talking to people and was always interested and engaged in what they were doing in their lives. All of us admire her with love and adoration. She raised us on a shoestring and we never knew it! We will miss you mom, especially your beautiful smile!
No services will be held at this time due to the pandemic. Hopefully, we will celebrate her life sometime during the summer of 2021.
In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to Nursing Education & Heritage Project Community Initiatives, 1000 Broadway, Suite #480, Oakland, CA 94607 or St. Vincent DePaul, c/o Transfiguration Catholic Church, 4000 E. Castro Valley Boulevard, Castro Valley, CA 94552.

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