MaryRogel's Obituary
Mary passed away on March 17, 2015 surrounded by her loving children, who were all by her side; she was 89 years old. Born Mary Melke Ber in Berlin Germany on June 27, 1925, she was the youngest child of Max and Florence Ber. The family of six immigrated to the United States aboard the SS Bremen, arriving at Ellis Island December 4, 1933.
Mary was the beloved wife of the late Roy Rogel. In 1943, they married in Florence, North Carolina on Mary’s eighteenth birthday, shortly before Roy left to fight the Germans in World War II. On September 6, 1944, a telegram arrived reporting Roy missing in action. Then, months later, Mary received the news that Roy was a prisoner of war in Germany. During this time apart, they wrote each other letters almost every day.
In June 1945, while Mary worked for the New York Port of Embarkation in Brooklyn, she watched as the Queen Mary sailed into New York Harbor. Her excitement only rose after her boss told her the news: Roy was on that ship. Thereafter, Mary promptly quit her job, and the story of Roy and Mary’s family began.
In 1953, with two daughters and an adventurous spirit, they loaded up their new Willys Wagon, and headed west for Los Angeles. There, A. Martinez, a lifelong friend Roy first met as a POW, had a job and home waiting for the young couple. But Roy felt something was missing and one day, he rode his motorcycle to San Diego. When he arrived at Pacific Beach and saw the ocean, he knew this was where he wanted to raise his family.
Mary and Roy’s first San Diego residence was an upstairs apartment in Pacific Beach, with stairs leading down to the Mission Beach boardwalk. When Roy won a lottery ticket to purchase government housing, they seized the opportunity and bought their first house on Lanston Street in Linda Vista. There, they welcomed two more children and built a backyard full of memories: a doughboy pool, where their children and friends learned to swim; a long driveway for riding bikes, roller-skates, and pedal cars; and, a place for carnivals, performances, barbecues, and extravagant birthday parties.
The family holds fond memories of their 1963 cross-country vacation. They traveled along Route 66 to New York, Virginia, Florida, and Texas, meeting relatives and showing them unforgettable sights across the United States.
Mary and Roy loved the San Diego area. Here were their favorite, most memorable places to visit: La Jolla Shores, the Cove, Presidio Park, Balboa Park, The Loma Theater, and the Del Mar Fair. In 1967, they purchased the house of their dreams in Kearny Mesa, where they lived until their passing.
Mary’s laughter and sharp mind always made for fun family evenings; playing games in a never ending attempt to beat her at Scrabble. She devoted herself to her family in every way possible. In addition to being a doting wife and mother, she worked at Linda Vista Elementary School and cleaned houses to pay for her children’s piano lessons. In 1965, Mary began work at May Company in Mission Valley Center, where she met her lifelong girlfriends: Laverne, Joan, Lou and Felicia. In 1977, she started working part-time for the Navy Ocean Systems Center on Catalina Blvd, and then eventually retired from the County of San Diego Department of Agriculture in 1991.
One of Mary’s greatest legacies will be the people she inspired. The friends Mary made in California became like her family and held a place close to her heart. There are fond memories of the Martinezes, the Decks, and Roy’s Delta Diving Club. In Linda Vista: the Petersons, the Crosswhites, the Codys and the Lancasters. In Kearny Mesa, on Atoll and Belden Street: Rita Moore, the Morrows, Emma Digenan, the Mullins, and the Grahams. Then, there were the BBQs by the Stapleton’s pool, where family and friends gathered to celebrate the Fourth of July and Labor Day.
We will remember her for her love of games, her caring heart, her beautiful smile, and for being an adoring mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a friend to so many people.
She is survived by her four loving children: Ilene Buchenau, Peggy Hobson, Sally Kaufman, and Randy Rogel; ten grandchildren: Matthew and Katie Buchenau, Michael Nieratko, Joel, and Johnny Hobson, Ryan and John Rogel, Debi Edwards, Kristina McCoy and Julie Kaufman; five great-grandchildren: Kyle and Jennifer Edwards, Andre Nieratko, Melody and Joshua Buchenau; and, many more loving family and friends.
Mary is laid to rest near the love of her life, Roy Rogel. They now reside at Fort Rosecrans in a beautiful spot overlooking the ocean they loved so much.
The celebration of Mary’s life will be held on June 27, 2015 at: 11:00 am
East Clairemont Baptist Church
4633 Doliva Drive
San Diego, CA 92117
Service starts at 11:00am, with reception to follow.
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