Alderson, Mary Cheryl Misener born March 28, 1946 passed away Sunday, September 9. 2013 at the age of 67. She died peacefully after a long battle with brain cancer. She is survived by her four children, Cherelle Alderson Shaw, Laralee Alderson Beck, Nicholas Alderson and Natalie Alderson. Mary was blessed with four grandchildren, Alex and Abby Shaw, and Jordan and Brendan Beck.

Mary was born in Walworth, Wisconsin the third child of four children of Ray and Mabel Misener. She graduated from Big Foot High School in Walworth. Mary worked as a legal secretary and as a loan officer in banking for many years while raising daughters Cherelle and Laralee. She moved to California in 1985 and enjoyed being a homemaker to son Nick and daughter Natalie. Mary had a love of learning, and fulfilled her dream of being a college graduate late in life. She earned her first degree, an Associate in Arts from Saddleback College in 2000. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts from Vanguard University in 2002. Finally, she earned her Master of Arts degree in Spiritual Psychology from University of Santa Monica in 2009.

Mary loved to travel. She hiked the Alps in Switzerland, attended a retreat on Iona Island off of Scotland, and toured Germany and Croatia with daughter Natalie. She also toured France, Italy, England, Ireland and Morocco with friends. When Mary was first diagnosed with cancer, she invited family members to join her on a spectacular National Geographic Expedition Around the World tour and was joined by daughter Natalie and daughter Laralee and her husband, Jeff and grandchildren Jordan and Brendan.

On December 10, 2011, Mary was diagnosed with brain cancer, specifically glioblastoma multiforme. She endured immediate brain surgery followed by weeks of radiation and then weeks of chemotherapy. She had gamma knife radiation twice. Her quality of life was very good for a long time until she suffered a mild stroke on March 1, 2013. After the stroke, the illness began to affect her more and more every day. She fought hard, and recognized her children and grandchildren until the last moment.

A Memorial Service/Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, September 14 at McCormick and Son Mortuary, 25000 Moulton Parkway in Laguna Hills at 5:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Human Options Orange County at www.humanoptions.org or Stop Cancer at www.stopcancer.org.