Mary Guz, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend to many passed away peacefully on November 15, 2024 at her home in Petaluma, California.
Born to Laurence and Catherine Davis in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada in 1943, she was the youngest of four children; she and her siblings Pat, Jane, and John enjoyed a childhood of pure Canadian bliss with summers spent at her family’s house on Lake Ontario. As the youngest, she was always doing her best to rise up the rankings and graduated from boarding school at Havergal College in Toronto at age 16 before moving on to York University where she earned her bachelor’s degree. Mary then set off to hitchhike across Europe where she met an American GI from California who became her first husband and the father to her children.
Mary met her life partner, John Guz in 1979 through their mutual and lifelong best friends, Sandra and Ron Goldstein. They married in 1983 and lived in San Anselmo where they raised Adam and Julie. Mary started her career in real estate before turning to a marketing career where she reveled in supporting the senior community. When the kids were grown, they resided in San Geronimo and Mill Valley before settling in Petaluma.
Mary and John enjoyed international travel adventures to many places in Europe, Central & South America, and trips to Mary’s home country of Canada. They delighted in attending performances of the San Francisco Ballet and other dance groups. Fans of the outdoors, they took great pleasure in hikes and countless walks with their dogs.
Everyone had special connections with Mary; she was a friend to all and truly appreciated every opportunity she had to connect with anyone. Her laugh will ring in our ears eternally, and her authentic connections will forever reside in our hearts. In her honor, may we all strike up conversations and share smiles as we move through our days.
Mary is survived by husband, John, son Adam (Summer) Childers of Park City, Utah, daughter Julie Childers of Seattle, WA, and cherished grandchildren Nicholas and Jackson, Alexandra and Nathaniel, respectively.
A celebration of life will be held in the summer of 2025.
