Mary Lee Telles

Mary Lee Telles passed peacefully at her Scotts Valley long-time family home after nearly a three-year battle with cancer. She was a young 83 years. Born Mary Lee Brooks in Omaha Nebraska, she was the second oldest of four and the only girl. When she was 13, the family moved to Pacific Grove, California. Her junior year in high school, her parents moved to East San Jose where she attended James Lick High School. It was here during her senior year she met her high school sweetheart and husband Al of 63 years. After graduating from James Lick, she attended Heald Business College and initially worked as a secretary at General Electric in San Jose.

Al and Mary first settled in Santa Clara, had two children and in 1965 moved to Scotts Valley adding a third child a few years later to complete their family. A new Catholic church was forming in Scotts Valley and it was here in 1969 that they became founding members of San Agustín Church. Mary soon began volunteering helping to type the weekly bulletin. She continued to add more tasks and was asked by the popular pastor, Fr. Joe Leonard, to become the official secretary in 1972 – a role she continued to hold and add to for the next 32 years. Even after retirement, Mary could be found at the church volunteering with the Altar Society, counting the weekly collection, or helping with parish activities and fundraisers. Mary was also very active in other parts of the Scotts Valley community as well holding roles including the school PTA President, middle school and Pop Warner football cheerleading advisor and helped start the Scotts Valley Girls Softball League. She was often seen driving kids around town in the "Telles Taxi" - her well known yellow Volvo station wagon. When Jazzercise came to Scotts Valley in the early 1980's, Mary jumped right in, organized the rental of the church hall for classes and became the "door lady"- a role she held until she was 80 years old!

One of Mary's joys in life were her three grandchildren who grew up just a few streets over. She loved spending time with them and was always one of their biggest fans at their activities and sports games. Mary loved celebrating birthdays and holidays and always made sure to gather the family for these special times. She was an avid reader and also enjoyed traveling. Mary and Al shared many memorable trips to their condo in Cabo San Lucas over a twenty-year period, often bringing along or meeting up with friends and relatives.

Mary will be dearly missed and will be remembered for her compassion, dedication, organization, her "can do" attitude, and strong faith. She leaves behind her devoted husband Al, son Tim Telles, daughter Traci Telles Pisciotta, son-in-laws Daron Pisciotta and Fred Donnelly, three grandchildren Mitchell, Nathan and Olivia Pisciotta, brothers Richard K. Brooks, Jr. of Boca Raton, Florida and William R. Brooks of Santa Cruz, as well as well as extended family and many friends. She is preceded in death by her parents Donia Mae and Richard K. Brooks, brother Jerome "Jerry" Brooks, and daughter Terri Telles Donnelly.

A Funeral Mass will be held to celebrate Mary's life at 1:00pm on Saturday, March 26, 2022 at San Agustín Catholic Church, 257 Glenwood Drive, Scotts Valley. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Mary to the San Agustín Altar Society, or a favorite charity.

Published in Press Banner · March 22, 2022