Mary Jane Lewis

In Loving Memory of Mary Lewis
May 19, 1955 – June 24, 2026

Mary Lewis lived a life firmly rooted in the Catholic faith, devoted to serving God, her family, and Catholic education. Whether as a wife, mother, grandmother, principal, or friend, she sought to love Christ by serving others. On June 24, 2026, she was called home to the Lord, whom she faithfully served throughout her life.

Mary was born on May 19, 1955, in Ontario, Canada, to Dutch immigrant parents Antonius and Wilhelmina Vander Putten. She was the second child of six and was raised in Artesia, California. She attended St. Joseph High School in Lakewood, California, and received her bachelor’s degree from Cal State Long Beach. She worked as a bookkeeper, where she would meet her future husband, Mike Lewis. Together, they enjoyed traveling, sports, and gatherings with family and friends. In 1981, Mary married Mike, and they lived in Cypress, California, where they raised their three sons—Gregory, Brian, and Michael. She continued working as a bookkeeper while teaching her sons the Catholic faith and taking them to their baseball, hockey, basketball, and soccer games.

In 1992, she began teaching at Padre Pio Academy, a small Catholic school in Garden Grove, California. She became the principal of Padre Pio Academy in 1993 and was still serving in that role in June 2026. She held a deep love for the students she taught, and she showed that love through the sacrifices she made for them. Mary would often show up early or stay late after school in order to help a student in need. In addition to being the principal, she taught various classes, even if she was not comfortable with the subject she was teaching. Whatever the school needed, Mary would take on the task. From fundraisers to cleaning, organizing events, and cooking meals for priests or for a family in need, there was not anything Mary would not do for her little community. Her dedication, leadership, and example helped shape generations of students and their families in both faith and learning.

She loved to travel, especially with her girlfriends, and cherished gathering with family and friends around the dinner table, playing cards and board games. Some of her family’s happiest memories were made during those times of laughter and friendly competition. Nothing brought Mary more joy than spending time with her 22 grandchildren, who lovingly knew her as Oma. She often insisted on picking up her grandchildren from school, taking them to their many sporting events, having them spend the night at her house, taking them to Knott’s Berry Farm, or teaching them to cook or sew.

Mary was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January 2026. She never complained about her pain, but continued serving in her role as principal, wife, mother, and grandmother. She kept her faith and offered up her suffering for others. She faced each day with courage and trust in God, living the very lessons she had taught for so many years. In offering her suffering to our Lord, she gave her family one final example of the faith she hoped to pass on—a faith that looked beyond this life to the promise of Heaven. She spent her final days at UCI Hospital in Orange, California, surrounded by her closest family and friends.

Mary will be remembered for her unwavering faith, incredible strength, generous heart, and lifelong commitment to Catholic education. She leaves behind a legacy of faith, service, resilience, and unconditional love that will continue to live on through her family, her students, and all who had the privilege of knowing her.

Mary is lovingly survived by her devoted husband, Mike; her sons, Gregory, Brian, and Michael; her daughters-in-law, Lucy, Crystal, and Alexis; her beloved twenty-two grandchildren; her siblings, Paul, Joan, Joseph, John, and Therese; and countless relatives, friends, parishioners, former students, and families whose lives she touched.

Mary’s life was a reflection of her faith in Christ. While she will be deeply missed, her family finds peace in the hope of eternal life and prays that she may now hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.