Mary E. Santi

Mary Santi lived a life of great love and devotion, with music in her heart. In her 106 years with us, she blessed so many lives with her loving kindness to all. She was a strong, positive, caring, devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her love reached beyond family and friends to all she knew. She was warm and inclusive, always making everyone feel special, to the point that many of her children's friends, as well as caregivers at Mt. St. Vincent, wanted to join the family.

Mary was a Seattle native, born on August 6, 1916 to Margaret and J.T. Sheffield and was younger sister to Margaret Sheffield Bangasser. She lived her early years in West Seattle before moving to Capitol Hill where she attended Holy Names Academy. She went on to study at the University of Washington where she was one of the first women to graduate in the School of Business in 1938. She had a sharp mind and was especially gifted in mathematics. She used her skills while working for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during World War II and also in the family business.

She married Maury Santi at St. Joseph Catholic Church in 1943. They lived most of their 65 years of married life on Capitol Hill, with summers at Mission Beach. Mary created a happy, loving home for her husband Maury and her 6 children. As she carried out her daily tasks of running a busy household, she was often heard humming a tune. She created beautiful celebrations for every holiday and birthday. She also cooked many big dinners for her family over the years and would always welcome those who happened to stop by to join the family meal. Mom was a long-time member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and she lived out her faith in her kindness and service to others.

Music was one of her great loves. She was quite an accomplished pianist, having been taught by the Holy Names Sisters. She enjoyed sitting down to play her grand piano at the end of her busy days, her children drifting off to sleep to the music of "Stardust" and "Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life."

Once her children were raised, Mary joined the Red Cross Volunteers and spent the next 35 years playing the piano for Sing Alongs in rest homes throughout the Seattle area. She brought great joy to the residents who sang along as she played many of their old favorite tunes from their young days. She would stay and visit afterwards and made many friends with residents and staff wherever she went.

Mary moved to Mt. St. Vincent at the age of 92 and spent the next 14 years enjoying the community life there, always reaching out and caring for others. She was well-known, both for her piano playing and for the pot of candy she kept full for her caregivers and any visitors who stopped by. She enjoyed everyone and everyone loved her.

Mary is lovingly remembered by her 6 children: Maureen and husband J.P, John, Denise and husband Brian, Bob and wife Terri, Rich and wife Mary, and Steve and wife Graylee; by her grandchildren: Thomas (Allison), Brian (Megan), Jenny (Danny), Celina (James), Justin, Nate, Kati (Troy), and Laura (Skott); by her great-grandchildren: Rowan, Juniper, Kate, Ryan, Beau, Waylon, Taylor, Morgan, Brooke, Ali, Cameron, Emily, and Mike; by many loving nieces and nephews; and by her friend Joey Kane.

Please share your comments, memories, and photos in Mary's Guestbook on the Tribute Wall, located above. We'd love to hear from you. A private funeral Mass was held at St. Joseph's. In lieu of flowers, please give to a charity that is important to you or plant a tree.

We will miss Mom's great spirit, her love for us, and the twinkle in her eye as she enjoyed a story that delighted her.

Her love has changed us all.

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

To share your condolences and memories of Mary with Family & Friends, please visit her Tribute Wall, located above.

- Care & Arrangements Entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home of West Seattle -

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