Mary Cay entered into eternal rest peacefully on July 2, 2016 after a brief illness. She was born in Pittsburgh PA, the first daughter of Frank and Mary Ward. Her wit and intelligence made her successful in the field of education, counseling/psychology.
Mary Cay grew up in Pittsburgh, Grand Rapids MI, Cleveland OH and Berkley MI. After graduating from the University of Detroit, she taught elementary school and continued her education at night. She received a Masters of Arts degree and assumed the role of Assistant Dean of Women at University of Detroit. She was invited to become the Dean of Women at Santa Clara University and relocated to California in 1967. Here she met her husband, Richard (Dick) Sherman, and was married for 47 years. They had one daughter, Kelly Marie.
After the birth of their daughter, she returned to work in 1971 at DeAnza College, part of the Foothill/DeAnza Community College District. She first worked as an academic counselor, advising and directing students into their forever careers. From 1989 until her retirement in 2013, she was the licensed counselor for the OTI program, which assisted welfare to work students. She influenced thousands of students in the area.
She is survived by her husband, Dick, her daughter, Kelly, her sister, Maria F. Ward and several cousins: Donald (Judy) Koch, J. Ward (Rosemary) Kearney and Michael (Vivian) Ward and numerous friends and family.
Visitation will be Friday, July 8th: 3:00-6:00 p.m. followed by the rosary: 6:00-7:00 p.m. at the Alameda Family Funeral Home in Saratoga, CA. Immediately following the rosary, there will be a reception from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the funeral home to celebrate her life. Funeral Mass will be Saturday, July 9th 10 a.m. at St. Joseph of Cupertino Catholic Church. Interment will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery at 11:30 a.m. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made in Mary Cay's name to the El Camino Hospital Foundation (Cancer Center Fund) https://elcaminohospital.thankyou4caring.org/donate.