Mary Margret Fisher
Mary Fischer was born in Woodland, CA on May 30, 1932, to Albino Freitas Sr. and Maria Jardim Pinto Freitas. Sadly, Mary lost her mother at the age of 11 years. As a result, she took on many household responsibilities at a young age, which greatly influenced her outlook on life.
Mary’s first job was a summer job cutting fruit for drying and had other summer jobs picking hops from the fields. After graduating High School, she got a job as an analyst for an insurance company in downtown Sacramento. It was during this time she met the love of her life, Curtis Henry Fischer, who was enlisted in the United States Air Force.
Mary married Curtis on September 4, 1954, in her hometown of Bryte, California. Shortly after they were married, they were posted to Newfoundland, Canada. During the 30 years Curtis served in the Air Force, they moved many times and lived in Indiana twice, England, various locations in California, and Germany before finally retiring in California. During those times Mary was the foundation and glue that held the family together by making a home at each new assignment and allowing her family to thrive. Mary loved to travel and together with Curtis and her family she traveled extensively. Her travels took her across the States and throughout Europe as well as to Russia, China, Egypt, and even included a safari in Africa. She was proud that she had been to 44 different countries and all but three of the States.
Mary stopped working after getting married to focus on raising her family. But while in Germany with the children getting older, Mary started working again. At first it was part-time work but then she obtained a full-time position working as a secretary at Kreuzberg, the nearby Army Post. When the family moved from Germany back to the Sacramento area, Mary was hired as a scheduler clerk at McClellan Air Force Base where she worked until she retired in 1994 after receiving numerous promotions and awards during her career.
Throughout her life, Mary loved to read, often reading two or three books a week. She also enjoyed dancing and won a local Arthur Murray dance contest when she was 18. She said she learned to dance because all her brothers used her to practice their dancing. Mary volunteered her time and supported many clubs and organizations frequently taking leadership roles. She was a Girl Scout leader, President for several Air Force NCO Wives clubs, and a member the Catholic 49er Plus club.
Mary treasured her Portuguese heritage. She was an active member of many Portuguese clubs including APUMEC, UPPEC, IDES, PFSA- #51, Cabrillo Civic Club # 5 and last but not least, San Pedro Association. Mary grew up supporting San Pedro Association with her father, Albino, who was one of the founding members. She was San Pedro’s queen in 1951. She was on the board for over thirty years and was President of the Board for five years.
Mary and Curtis shared 43 wonderful and adventurous years together before his sudden death on July 14, 1997, the same date Mary would die on 25 years later. Mary is survived by her children, Valerie O’Connor (Dennis), Diane Fischer (Mary) and Mike Fischer (Trina) and five grandchildren Sean and Carol O’Connor, and Keldon, Ellis, and Macay Fischer; her brothers Danny Freitas and Dennis Freitas (Sharon); brother-in-law Myron Fischer (Kathryn) and sisters-in-law; Allene Dixon (James), Linda Fischer, and Nylene Freitas; and cousins Alyce Cervantes, Irene Santiago, Isabel Rosa, Barbara Carvalho-Lehmann, and Al Baeta. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins, too many to mention here. She was predeceased by her parents, husband, and brothers, Celestino Freitas and Albino Freitas, Jr; sister Inez, brothers-in-law Elton Fischer, Harvey Fischer, Willard Fischer, and Lee Roy Fischer; and sisters-in-law, Leona Fischer, Lorraine Fischer, Nellie Jo Fischer, Norma Fischer, Dorothy Freitas and Beverly Freitas.
A Rosary will be held at St Mary’s Cemetery and Funeral Center on 6509 Fruitridge Rd Sacramento, CA 95820 on July 27, 2022, at 6 pm. Viewing is before and after the Rosary starting at 5 pm. The Funeral mass is on Thursday, July 28, 2022, at 10 am at St. Mary’s Cemetery and Funeral Center and internment will follow immediately after the mass at St. Mary’s Cemetery. A reception will be held immediately after in the St. Mary’s Funeral Center Reception Room.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to San Pedro Association at P.O. Box 885, West Sacramento, CA 95605.
