Mary Rosas Ontiveros

Mary Rosas Ontiveros

May 25th, 1929 – October 14th, 2024 (Age 95)

Clarkdale, AZ

 It is with the greatest sadness that we announce the passing of our dearest mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Mary Rosas Ontiveros. Born on May 25th, 1929, Mary passed peacefully at home on October 14th, 2024 and was reunited with our Lord. 

 Mary was originally from Clarkdale, AZ, born in a train boxcar on what is now the Verde Canyon Railroad, where her father, Efren Rosas, laid the tracks. Her mother, Trinidad, raised 11 children, Mary being the 8th. Soon after her birth, she and her family moved to Jerome where her father worked as a foreman for the mines. She attended Jerome Elementary School as a kindergartener until 1936 when her father bought a house in Centerville on a street that later was named Calle Rosas after him. She then attended Clarkdale-Jerome School, and later finished her GED. 

 For those that know Mary, it is no surprise that she held a variety of jobs to utilize her many skills. In 1949, she moved to California and worked in a tomato factory, Christmas light factory, and a candy factory. Later on, she took up work at movie studios, spending time on sets and working with special effects. Her last job in California was a at a jewelry store as a bookkeeper before she moved back to Clarkdale in 1951. Upon her return, she immediately began working as a waitress at the local Kings Café, where she met her husband, Herculano D Ontiveros. Soon after, the couple got married on December 8th, 1951 at the Jerome Catholic Church. They became parents to 6 children and were married for almost 71 years before Herculano passed in July of 2022. 

 Throughout her years, Mary remained heavily involved in her community. She belonged to many organizations including the Legion of Mary Catholic Church and collected coins for the March of Dimes. She often helped the elderly in the neighborhood by giving haircuts to the men, taking the women to church and grocery stores, and even helped them to events such as the Penny a Pound Plane rides at the Cottonwood Airport. During one of these events, Mary was even given the opportunity to control the small planes with the pilot. 

 Since Mary was a child, she remained loyal to her faith in the Catholic religion. She volunteered her spare time at Saint Cecelia’s Catholic Church in Clarkdale where she regularly attended services and taught Catechism for the children. In 1968 she started work at Bueno’s Café, while also cleaning the offices of the Clarkdale police department on the side. Two years later she took up work at Amigos Inn, all while raising her 6 children. In 1982, Mary was hired at the Cottonwood School District in the cafeteria, where she remained until 1989 when she started work as a dietician for the Marcus J Lawrence Hospital (Verde Valley Medical Center). She retired from the hospital in 1994 and became a full-time babysitter to her grandchildren. 

 The entirety of Mary’s life was focused on giving back. She was extremely compassionate and welcoming, always making new friends and helping those in need, whether it be her family, friends, or even strangers. She lived through so many adventures as a young woman, and continued them into retirement, traveling across the United States with her husband and their two eldest children Lydia and Leonard. Her family will never forget her famous homemade tortillas, her love for music and singing, and her countless stories. Mary will be forever missed by her family and friends, and anyone who was fortunate enough to cross paths with her. She is survived by 6 children: Lydia Moreno (predeceased Tony), Leonard Ontiveros (Mary), Christina McKee (Shawn), Oscar Ontiveros (Raynee), Robert Ontiveros (Julie), and Teresa Vera (Albert); 18 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren. 

An online guestbook is available to sign at www.westcottfuneralhome.com