Obituary of Mary Cheney

Mary Jane Cheney passed away on December 30, 2014, just hours after her 82nd birthday. After successfully beating cancer numerous times over the past 20 years, surrounded by family, she finally succumbed after a courageous and lengthy battle with Alzheimers. Born in Orange, California, Mary was the daughter of Karl and Clara Glasbrenner. Mary graduated from Orange High School where she was elected the first female student body president. After high school, she attended college at Stanford University for her first year and then transferred to Vassar College in New York to be closer to her brother Fritz who was attending The United States Military Academy at West Point. In 1951, just after Christmas and just months before his graduation, Fritz was killed in a tragic plane crash along with many of his West Point classmates. Mary transferred back to Stanford University after her brothers death, where she met her husband Al Cheney. After graduating, Mary and Al were married, moved to Santa Cruz, and went on to have 4 children. Mary is survived by her beloved and devoted husband of nearly 60 years, Al Cheney, their 3 sons and daughters in law, Al and Cheryl Cheney Jr, Bob and Toni Cheney, Scott Cheney, and daughter and son in law, Cathy and Andrew Sears. She also leaves her brother Louis Koth Glasbrenner and wife Patti, and her sister Shirley Boezinger and husband Bill, along with her nine loving grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren and countless other special family members. Mary was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, committed to all of their activities which included sports, camping, gardening, crafts, and traveling to Alaska and Maui. She enjoyed her walks on the beach, reading, golf, cooking, and social time with friends and family. Mary touched the lives of many and will be lovingly remembered by many of her students and colleagues in Watsonville, where she taught at Amesti School. Many memories of her love and the time spent with her grandchildren will forever be cherished. Mary was a devoted Christian and loved her extended church family at St Andrew Presbyterian in Aptos. Thank you Mary Jane for instilling kindness. Your amazing generosity and your unsurpassed optimism will live on forever. You have impacted so many and truly demonstrated what it is to be a Christian. Mary was Al's dream girl and his everything. She will be greatly missed by Al and always be a part of him. A Celebration of a Life Well Lived will be held on January 7th, 2015, at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church (9850 Monroe Ave, in Aptos), beginning at 11:00 am. Family and friends are all welcome to join together and say farewell to a wonderful lady. Any kind acts of charity can be made in her memory to Cure Alzheimer's Fund 34 Washington Street, Suite 200 Wellesley Hills, MA 02481 or to St. Andrew Presbyterian Church.