Mary died at home on Saturday, November 5, 2016 according to her wishes. Mary was the loving mother of Mark Yandow, and grandmother to Cindee, Heidi and Lee. Mary was born into an Irish Catholic family in Portsmouth, NH, February 25, 1924. She married the late Chester Yandow, a career air force officer in 1949. Together they traveled to many places in the world while in the service and in retirement. Mary was proud of her volunteer service at Kaiser Hospital in Santa Clara for 30 years. She was especially proud of her Irish heritage, loved to entertain, play bridge, shop and eat good chocolate. All who knew her appreciated her outstanding sense of humor, compassion and kindness. She was above all a good friend, a loving mother and grandmother, a role model for her family and lived her life with meaning and faith. Her great-grandchildren, and her nieces, Kathy Almazol, Mary Ellen Yuhas, and nephew, John Leith, as well as Sandi Yandow, survive her. Mary was the best friend of Angie Brown, her neighbor. The family thanks Dr. Mari Asakawa from Kaiser and caregiver Dina for their loving care of Mary. Friends and family are invited to celebrate mass for her on Saturday, November 12, 2016 at St. Clare Church, 941 Lexington St. Santa Clara. Viewing and visitation will be in the church from 11:45am – 12:30pm, followed by mass at 12:30pm. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Brian Hegarty scholarship fund at St. Clare School, 724 Washington St., Santa Clara, CA 95050 in memory of Mary Yandow.