Fineman, Mary
FINEMAN (ALLEN), Mary
September 18, 1959 – September 13, 2021
Mary Allen Fineman was a kind, gentle and loving wife, mother, grandmother, friend, teacher, and inspiration to all those who knew her. She especially loved butterflies, birds and other wild animals living free near her desert home. She passed away suddenly on September 13, 2021, in Baldwin Park, CA, at the young age of 61 with her devoted husband and eldest daughter by her side. Mary was born at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, GA, to parents William D. and Fannie E. Allen, and embarked on a life-long career of helping young people. After graduating from Bass High School and attending Georgia Southern College, she met and married her husband Dan and began raising their family. Always wanting to stay close to her three children, Mary volunteered at the local pre-schools and grade schools to gain valuable teaching insight. In 1997 she packed up the kids and followed Dan to a new job in his native Pacific Northwest, settling in University Place, WA, where she completed studies at Pacific Lutheran University and certified to teach secondary school students. With her children growing up and moving away, by 2007 Mary and Dan had relocated to new opportunities in Pasadena, CA, and she continued her high school career while making a new home in Altadena, CA. When it came time for Dan to consider retirement in 2019, the empty nest couple settled on the quiet and picturesque desert of eastern Kern County and their forever home in California City, CA. Mary took a position with the Mojave Unified School District to teach middle school students in need, where she loved her quiet home in the desert, cared for her students who adored her guidance, and looked ahead to a peaceful future in her community. Her time with us here was all too brief, yet her genuine kindness, human wisdom and inspiration, to her family and close friends will surely span generations to come. A final wish was for her family to solemnly scatter her ashes in beautiful blue waters at south Hale Passage of Pierce County in Washington State.
Mary Fineman is survived by her devoted husband of 38 years, Daniel Fineman; her daughter Claresta and husband Jacob Dennis; her daughter Amelia and husband Michael Baehl; her son Daniel Fineman Jr.; and four beautiful grandchildren. No public services are planned. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to California City Middle School of the Mojave Unified School District, located in California City, CA, in remembrance of Mary Allen Fineman.
