Maria Antonia "Mary" Resendez

Maria Antonia “Mary” Resendez, a long-time Sunnyside area resident, died Monday, October 31 at her home surrounded by her loving family. Born on May 10, 1938 in Brownsville, Texas, Mary moved to Washington with her parents Modesto and Guadalupe Marichalar and family. In 1953, she met Ignacio (Nacho) Resendez and the two began dating in 1956. They were married later that year on October 6 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and recently celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary. The couple was blessed with six children. Before retiring, Mary was a dedicated social worker with Northwest Rural Opportunities/Washington State Migrant Council now known as Inspire.  She enjoyed helping the families that she served. She loved all her daycare children and made them all feel special when they would see her at work or about town. A longtime parish member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, she served on the bereavement committee, and worked with the food bank.  She was also active in politics. As a member of the Democratic party, she volunteered throughout the years on various campaigns and helped to recruit voters. Mary was known to her family as loving and giving. Her children called her “Mama”,  to her dozens of nieces, nephews and Godchildren she was known as “Aunt Toni” and to her 12 grandchildren she was known as “Grandma Nacho” because that was grandpa’s nickname,  “Grandma Toni” or “Mimi”. But it didn’t matter what name you had for her she answered with a smile, laugh and hug. She loved to cook and was known for her fresh tortillas, homemade salsa and “Sunnyside breakfast”, which was served all day on Sundays after church for any friends and family who stopped by.  Many would tell her she needed to open a restaurant, not realizing the kitchen was her restaurant and the food was always hot, and fresh. Mary also loved to garden and kept an extensive collection of rose bushes including her favorite “The Yellow Rose of Texas”.  She and Nacho also kept a huge “salsa” garden  where they grow all the vegetables needed to jar dozen of cases of salsa each year. In retirement she enjoyed travelling with her husband Nacho and was always ready for the next adventure. The blue van became their home away from home as they would road trip to deliver their salsa and see their many relatives in California, Arizona and Texas. 

She is survived by her husband, Ignacio Resendez and their six children;  Deborah “Debbie” and husband Ron Schrader,  Juanita “Janie” and husband Chris Hernandez,  Lazaro G. Resendez, Ignacio Joseph Resendez Jr., Maria Elena “MaryEllen – Pebbles” and husband Craig Schwisow, and Charles Anthony “Chuck” and wife Dayna Resendez. 12 grandchildren, James Joseph Parker, Sara (Erik Ramsey) Parker, Rachel Schrader, Jonathan  (Amanda) Hernandez, Chris Hernandez, T.K. (Meghan) Resendez, Tabitha (Marcus) Resendez-Miller, Martha (Dane) Baratta, Charles Resendez II, Maryssa Resendez, Sterling Schwisow, and Pearson Schwisow. Six Great-Children, Sister Chavela Gonzalez, sister Lupe Barajas (Glenn Haddox), and brother Frank Marichalar, and way too many nieces and nephews to count but all loved dearly.

She was preceded in death by her parents, six sisters and two brothers.

She always told us “I love you more”, “Te quiero mas” and she loved us just the way we all are. 

Viewing and visitation will be held on Thursday, November 3, 2016 from 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM with a recitation of the Holy Rosary at 6:00 PM at the Smith Funeral Home Chapel in Sunnyside, WA. Viewing and visitation will also be held on Friday, November 4, 2016 from 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, November 4, 2016 at 1:00 PM at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Sunnyside, WA. with burial to follow at Lower Valley Memorial Gardens, Sunnyside, WA. Those wishing to sign Mary’s online memorial book may do so at www.funeralhomesmith.com Smith Funeral Homes in care of arrangements.. 

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