Mary McKelleget Merdinger passed away on November 17, 2023 at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose, only four days from her 104th birthday.

Born in Cambridge, MA on November 21, 1919, she attended St. Paul's Grammar School, Cambridge High & Latin School, and graduated in 1937 from the Choate School.  She graduated from Wellesley College in 1941 with an AB in English Literature.  She received her certificate in Dental Hygienics from the Forsythe School for Dental Hygienists in 1942 and attended Tufts Dental School.

Leaving dental school in 1944 to marry Charles J. Merdinger, a career naval officer, she embarked on a 69-year, as she would say, "…adventure of a lifetime."

As a Navy wife she lived in Troy, NY; Panama, Canal Zone; Oxford, England; Washington, DC; Bremerton, WA; Adak, Alaska (before statehood); San Diego and Port Hueneme, CA; Yokosuka, Japan; Annapolis, MD; Alexandria, VA; and San Bruno, CA.  When Charles was assigned to a duty station in Vietnam during the war, she worked for the Army as a dental hygienist.

After Charles retired from the Navy in 1970, they lived in Chestertown, MD; New York City, NY; Aspen, CO; La Jolla, CA; Incline Village, NV; and Cupertino, CA.

Everywhere she lived, she excelled in volunteering.  Some highlights include:  working with the Navy Relief Society in Southern CA; serving as a Grey Lady for the Red Cross in Yokosuka, Japan; and teaching conversational English to professors at the Japanese Defense Academy (an assignment performed by men until she took on the role).  She served as Chairman of Volunteers at the US Naval Academy; she volunteered at the Mental Health Association in Chestertown, MD; she served as Chairman of Newcomers at the UCSD Women's Club; and she also volunteered to welcome newcomers at the International Center at UCSD.  As a testament to their faith, Mary and Charles were members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre in both California and Nevada.

Hostess and chef at hundreds of meals to support her husband's career, she kept a list of menus and guests, to avoid serving the same meal twice to repeat diners.  In the parlance of the times, she was a "great gal!"

She was a kind, attentive and loving mother to her daughters and sons-in-law; she loved being a grandparent and a great-grandparent.  She provided unfailing support and encouragement to all she knew – starting with family.  She will be terribly missed.

She is survived by her daughters Anne Merdinger Kern (Fred), Joan Merdinger (Ed Bough), Susan Merdinger, and Jane Merdinger (Bruce Cole), grandchildren David (Allison) Kern, Suzanne Kern (Chris Kempes), Kathryn Kern, Geoff Bough (Cheryl Chow), Meredith Bough (Dave DiGiovanni), Alexandra Cole, Catherine Cole, and Anna Cole, and three great grandchildren.

A Memorial Mass was held at the Maryknoll Chapel in Cupertino November 21, 2023, and burial services were held at the Miramar Veterans Cemetery in San Diego, CA where her ashes were laid to rest adjoining those of her beloved husband, Charles, on March 11, 2024.