Mary Ellen Castro, age 72, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at her home in San Leandro, CA. Mary was born on March 8, 1951, in Rapid City, SD to the late Ned and Emaline Tootle. She attended Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland, CA but transferred her senior year and graduated from Livermore High School in Livermore, CA in 1969. She graduated from California State University Hayward in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development. Mary worked as a teacher, assistant director and director at Diablo Hills Country School in San Ramon, CA for 29 years. She also was a youth minister at St. Felicitas Catholic Church in San Leandro, CA for 20 years. After retiring from Diablo Hills, she periodically worked as a substitute teacher for the San Lorenzo Unified School District.
In 1973, Mary met Jeffery Ervin Castro and on March 9, 1974, they were married at St. Theresa Catholic Church in South Lake Tahoe, CA. They lived with their two daughters and one son in San Leandro, CA. Then when Jeffery took a job assignment in Germany their second son was born. They stayed in Germany for three years and then returned to San Leandro, CA.
Mary enjoyed fishing, watching sports (especially baseball) and traveling with her husband. She visited twenty two of the thirty Major League baseball stadiums throughout the United States with her husband. On a trip to Rome, Italy she was able to see Pope Francis who was just feet away from her. Above all else, she enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren.
Left to honor and remember Mary’s love are her husband, Jeffery Castro; children Chantel Gonzalez (Juriel Gonzalez), Alisha Castro, Jeffery Castro (Rebecca Castro), Anthony Castro (Linsey Castro); 16 grandchildren and her brothers John Tootle, and Herbert Tootle.
She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Fredrick Tootle.
Visitation and Rosary will be held on February 21, 2024, from 5:00pm to 8:00pm – Rosary at 6:00pm at Holy Sepulchre Funeral Center, 1051 Harder Road, Hayward, CA 94542.
Funeral Mass will be held on February 22, 2024, at 10:00am at St. Felicitas Catholic Church, 1662 Manor Blvd., San Leandro, CA 94579. Burial at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery after the funeral mass.
