Giddings, Mary Elizabeth

January 12, 1923 to July 25, 2010 Mary Giddings passed 
peacefully on July 25, 2010 in her home in Carlsbad, where she 
and her husband Douglas lived for the past three years. Her 
husband of 62 years, Douglas, passed away in June 2009. Mary 
(nee Poag) was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. She married 
Douglas Giddings on June 24, 1947 and moved to San Diego. 
Mary and Doug previously lived in Point Loma in a house they 
built in 1948 and the raised three daughters, Patty Giddings, 
Bonnie Siemer and Gail Hammond. Mary loved her family and 
later in her life she was a big part of her grandchildren's lives: 
Jennifer Siemer, Jessica Siemer Hunter, Brent Hammond and 
Hilary Hammond. Mary was a regular visitor to the San Diego 
Zoo and Sea World, often taking her grandchildren and later 
taking her great-grandchildren: Nathaniel Siemer-Arrogante, 
Logan Hunter and Sarah Hunter. She would visit Balboa Park 
and take the kids on the carrousel, the train and all the 
museums. Mary and Doug built a house on their avocado ranch 
around their grandchildren. Doug built a large outdoor train 
track with mountains, tunnels, waterfalls and lakes. He built a 
playhouse for the kids and Mary spent many hours building up 
the gardens around the house. Mary knew every plant by name 
on her property. She loved knitting, sewing, gardening, crafting 
and especially helping others. Mary was a member of numerous 
organizations. Her favorites were the Children's Hospital La 
Playa Unit, the Maritime Museum, especially the Star of India, 
the Junior League, and the Wednesday Club, where she met so 
many good friends. San Diego Yacht Club was the favorite place 
to go, where Mary met for lunch with friends, and Doug sailed 
his boats. In addition she was a member of the Zoological 
Society, Makua, Point Loma Association, and Friends of Balboa 
Park. There was a table next to Mary's chair at home that was 
"her spot." Her family was not allowed to touch anything on 
that table. When Doug and Mary moved to Carlsbad, the girls 
had a chance to see what had piled up on the table and were 
amazed to see every letter/brochure/ newsletter from all her 
past memberships and organizations. In the later years, Mary 
couldn't be as active in her clubs and organizations but wanted 
to know what was happening and kept in touch with her 
friends. Mary did not like anyone to make a "fuss" over her so 
she asked to have no service. Those wishing to remember Mary 
may send donations in her name to Rady's Children Hospital, 
San Diego Yacht Club's Sailing Foundation, or the Zoological 
Society.

Published in San Diego Union-Tribune on September 2, 2010