MARIA (MARY) GUADALUPE (NAREZ) LATTRACE – Mary, beloved mother, sister and friend at the age of 95 was peacefully called to her heavenly home on Monday, June 17th. She resided in The Covenant Village, a caring and loving community in Plantation Florida near her family.
Mary was born on January 28th, 1924 in Uruapan, Michoacan, Mexico to Juanita Paez and Julio Narez. Shortly after her birth she and her mother returned to St. Louis where she grew up in the Soulard area. Her family belonged to St. Peter and Paul Parish. In 1941 Mary graduated from Hadley High School and married Frank James Lattrace in 1942. She held numerous jobs, including painting airplanes during WWII, elevator operator, bookkeeping at Cass Bank and at Jefferson Bank, where she eventually retired on December 31st, 1988. Mary’s greatest accomplishment and joy were raising her family of eight children. She instilled core values of faith, humility, charity, generosity, resilience, patience, forgiveness, kindness, and love for family, friends, and fellow human beings. In addition, she found great pleasure in swimming, volunteering, reading, listening to music, and deeply revered Mother Earth. A quote that distinctly reflects Mary’s character ~ “When your children think of fairness and integrity, they think of you.”
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her beloved daughter Diane Brink and her husband, Dr. Ronald Brink; her brothers and sisters-in-law, Salvador (Gloria) Narez, Ramiro (Grace) Narez, Alvaro (Maryann) Narez, and Anthony (Katherine) Narez. Surviving loved ones are Kenneth Bick, son of the late Diane Brink; daughter Donna (Arnold) Cohen, children Jennifer, Daniel, and Jonas; daughter Deborah (Samuel David) Youngerman, children Dana and Heather; son Greg (Ruth) Lattrace, children Kelly (Eric) Spitz, and Maggie; daughter Barbara, children Thomas and Timothy Stevens; daughter Joan Welch; daughter Julie (Paul Thomas) Kattmann, children Tyler and Mitchell; daughter Michelle (late) husband Richard Keller, child Carol; 7 great-grandchildren; her sister, Rita Dodson, and many nieces and nephews.
A service of remembrance will be held from 4:00-9:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 23rd, 2019 at Kutis Affton Chapel, 10151 Gravois Road, St. Louis, Missouri. Prayers will begin on Monday at 9:45 a.m. at the Kutis Affton Chapel followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. at Seven Holy Founders Catholic Church at 6471 S. Rock Hill Road, Affton, Missouri. Interment will be at Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery, 7030 Gravois Road, St. Louis, Missouri. Those who wish to remember Mary may donate in her memory to the Disabled American Veterans.
“Fear not tomorrow, for God is already there!” ~ Unknown