Mary Helen Oviedo, born Maria Elena Amaya, August 14, 1938 in Mexicali, CA, passed peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday, September 9th, 2020 at Eisenhower Hospital in Palm Desert after a long battle with cirrhosis of the liver.She loved living in Palm Desert with her husband Robert Oviedo for the past 15 years
Maria Elena Amaya (Mary Helen) was daughter to Antonia Amaya Garner and John Garner.Mary Helen has one sister, Peggy Ann Garner who is 14 years younger.Mary Helen affectionately referred to her sister as "squirt" and cared for her as a second mom/big sister.Peggy spent every summer for many years with her sister after Mary Helen married.Mary Helen was raised in her beloved California and lived the life of a typical child of the 50's.Her school years were at Transfiguration Catholic Grade School where she lettered in Volleyball and Basketball, Saint Mary's Academy in Los Angeles, and El Camino College.She met Malcolm Gordon Douglas while he was attending USC.They married and moved to the east coast after he graduated from USC.
While married to Malcolm, she lived in Boston, MA, Erie, PA, Rome, GA, Pine Bluff, AR, Hickory, NC, Rochester, MI, and Cincinnati, OH.While married to Malcolm, they had three children, Tamara Elizabeth Douglas, Stephen Wallace Douglas, and Natalie Jean Douglas.During these years she traveled extensively to Europe, the Caribbean, and Brazil.She traveled throughout the US with kids, vacationing primarily in Sarasota, FL.She became an aunt to Peggy and Bob McCormick's children, Loretta, Erin, Patrick, Kyle and Rebecca.She was godmother to Loretta McCormick. She finally made it back to Southern California in 1978.
She met and married Dick Wulff where they lived in Westlake Village, CA and in Palm Desert.They traveled to Holland and Belgium.
Her pride and joy became her 11 grandchildren.Tami and Steve Wolfenden's children Brent, Justin, David, and Evan.Stephen Douglas's children, Cadance, Tristan, Forest, and Waverly.Natalie Bonanno's children Russell Torres, Cassondra Bonanno and Jonathan Bonanno.
Mary Helen reunited with Robert Oviedo, her high school beau, and married in Manhattan Beach where they lived for 9 years before moving to the desert.They enjoyed travel to Hawaii, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, and Canada as well as many trips to visit grandchildren.She loved going on adventures with Bob. Their favorite trips were annual visits to Monterey Aquarium and Morro Bay. Visits to Del Mar racetrack to bet on the horses, especially when her sister, Peggy's horses were racing, were always enjoyed. She loved trips to Disneyland, Sea World and vacations with children and grandchildren to Omaha, Nebraska Zoo, Branson, MO, Milwaukee, WI, and High Rock Lake, NC.
During the last 5 years, complications from cirrhosis limited her activity greatly.She still found a way to meet the first three of her great grandchildren-William John Wolfenden, Emma Rose Wolfenden, and Arya Lynn Wolfenden. Chloe Elizabeth Wolfenden and Sophia Joy Wolfenden were born under COVID restrictions.
Mary Helen's greatest pleasures in life were her years with Bob, her time with grandchildren and most of all talking with, and about her grandchildren.Her "puppies" were beloved companions beginning with Champagne, Gordo, Diamant, and Bourgeois.Lottie, Elizabeth, and Cassie brought her joy and company during the past several years when she could not get out often.Her life was filled with adventures, love of sports, especially football, and a fierce loyalty to her family.
Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, Sept 29, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at American Martyrs Catholic Church, 1431 Deegan Place, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266.Pallbearers are her grandsons-Brent Wolfenden, Russell Torres, Justin Wolfenden, David Wolfenden, Evan Wolfenden and Jonathan Bonanno.She will be laid to rest at Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90068.