Obituary of MARY C. MULHALL

Mary C. Mulhall CPA (1924-2018) Mary Mulhall lived life on her terms for over 94 years! Mary was born in San Francisco to Carmela and Emmanuel Tonna, who came to California from Malta. Mary grew up in the San Francisco’s Bay View district which, in the 1920s and 30s, was a close community with immigrant families from all over Europe. Mary was active in the Saint Paul of the Shipwreck parish and graduated from Mount Saint Joseph’s day scholar program. With a small group of Maltese girls, Mary took three buses to get to Commerce High School. Mary graduated as a member of the class of 1941. Mary’s academic ability was fostered by her beloved teacher Ms. Mabry who encouraged her to continue her education. With America at war, Mary worked full time and continued her education first at Heald’s Business School and then at the University of San Francisco. Mary would work a full day as an accounting clerk, eat at Manning’s cafeteria, go to school at night and then have to wait for the buses home. She persevered for seven years to earn her college degree. Mary was the first woman to graduate from USF’s School of Business in the evening division. She went on to pass the CPA exam in 1952, becoming one of the first women CPAs in California. She worked for the local firm Barlow, Davis and Wood and then as the controller for Pellegrini Brother’s Wine Distributors. In 1969, Mary established her private accounting practice in San Bruno serving many small businesses on the peninsula. Mary married Peter Mulhall (1917-1989) in 1960 and together they raised two children in San Bruno, Tom Mulhall and Kathy Mulhall Sharp. Mary was the beloved aunt to the children of her brother Arthur Tonna – Jeannette Gregory, Patricia Cuthburt, Valerie Ariazza and Kenneth Tonna. Mary and Peter were active in St. Robert’s parish and with Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. Retiring in 2000, Mary became the Treasurer for the San Bruno chapter of AARP and a volunteer at St. Bruno’s parish. Throughout her life and into retirement, Mary was an avid traveler. As a single lady, she took one of the first propeller craft flights to Hawaii and throughout her life went to Alaska, Panama, Costa Rica, Morocco and many places across the United States and Europe. Mary was active in the lives of her grandchildren Emma and Kevin Sharp. Mary resided at Sterling Court in San Mateo, moving to Placerville in 2015. Mary lived independently at Gold Country Retirement Community and at Crestview Mobile Home Park until she was 93 supported by her devoted caregivers Amanda Scott and Sue Kupihea. Mary entered into hospice at the Pines of Placerville and passed away August 30, 2018. *PLEASE DO NOT SEND FLOWERS* To honor Mary’s life and passing, we have established a Go Fund Me site to support her caregiver Sue, to secure permanent housing. For details about services to honor Mary: https://www.placervillefuneralandcremation.com/notices/MARY-MULHALL