Mary-Margaret O’Toole

Mary-Margaret O’Toole transitioned from her earthly body to her heavenly home on October 1st, 2022, in Vista, California, at 80 years of age.

Mary was the daughter of Gertrude and Marvin Kaiser and the second of three children. She grew up in Wisconsin and Iowa. Mary was passionate for the arts; was a talented pianist; had an incredible singing voice and enjoyed performing in school plays. Mary was an accomplished horsewoman. She participated in rodeo events and gave trail rides in her hometown as a teenager.
In later years Mary enjoyed playing golf, camping, fishing, and treasured spending time on “Seaduced”, a family sailboat on the Pacific Ocean.
Mary loved children and was a dedicated mother first and foremost. She always treasured spending time with her three children. She proudly wore monogrammed sweaters with her initials, “M.O.M.”. Mary especially cherished her role as “Gram” to her grandchildren, Duncan and Tara. Whenever Sir Elton John’s ‘Circle of Life’ song played from the movie The Lion King, tears of joy would appear on Mary's face, fondly thinking of them.
Education was extremely important to Mary personally and as a career. She was proud to have degrees from the Catholic University, Siena Heights (SHU) in Adrian, Michigan and the University of San Francisco (USF) in San Francisco, California, where she studied Organizational Behavior. Mary’s career in School Administration dominated much of her time in Tecumseh, Michigan at the elementary, middle and high school level.

After moving to Southern California in the late 80’s, the University of California, Irvine became her “working” home, where she was surrounded by terrific co-workers and wonderful students at the Bren Events Center.

Mary moved to Santa Barbara where she continued to use her love and talent by becoming an employment counselor with the County of Santa Barbara. Mary also taught catechism to the youth of her local church as well as being a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children. 
Mary is survived by her son Trey (wife Heather, daughter Tara) of Ventura, CA., her daughter Teri, of Carlsbad, CA. and her son Tim (son Duncan) of Vista, CA. Mary leaves behind her brother, Bob, and sister, Kaye, (husband Larry) of Lake Forest, CA., her niece, Cindi, of East Moline, Ill. and multiple relatives in Wisconsin.
A private blessing was held on Tuesday, October 11, at the Allen Brothers Mortuary in Vista, CA. 
A funeral Mass will be held at 1pm at St. Mary Star of The Sea Parish on October 28th 2022 in Oceanside, CA. A Rosary prayer will begin at 12:30pm.
Internment and additional Mass will be at St. Michael's Cemetery in Kewaskum, Wisconsin in 2023. 

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