Mary Kathryn Kessler

Mary Kathryn Faron Kessler

August 2, 1940 to May 6, 2023

Mary was born in Kansas City, Kansas the fourth child of parents Thomas Andrew Faron and Kathryn Cecilia Flanagan Faron. She moved to the Los Angeles, CA area in 1949 with her parents and three older brothers, John Edward Faron, William Joseph Faron, and Thomas Eugene Faron. Her father, Thomas, became employed in the security departments of several aerospace companies. Her mother, Kathryn, took courses at Santa Monica City College, and became employed at Hughes Aircraft Company’s production hardware programs. Her parents and brothers have all predeceased her.

She was educated in Catholic Schools in Kansas City, KS and Santa Monica, CA graduating from St. Monica Catholic High School in 1958. After high school she tok college courses and worked at North American Aviation and TRW as a data analyst. Later she took courses in accounting and Finance and became employed at several small aerospace firms in the mid 1970s

She met her husband, Bill, at a social event in Manhattan Beach, CA. They married in a Westwood Christian Church on April 19, 1975. At first they lived in West Los Angeles, but Mary’s commute to her Orange County Employer forced the couple to move closer to Mary’s place of employment. They rented a condominium in Long Beach, CA, and welcomed the birth of their son William Berret Kessler III in May, 1976. She was also the step mother to Bill’s children by earlier marriages - Mitch Kessler, Elizabeth Rector, and Lisa D’Ambrosio. They purchased the home in Long Beach they would share for the balance of their married life in November, 1976.

She continued her work as the Chief Financial Officer of small aerospace companies until 1985. She then focused on the development of her son, Billy, and the home that she shared with husband, Bill, and son Billy. The home that she developed would become a refuge of strength for husband Bill who was working hard on classified radar projects at Hughes Aircraft Company, GM Hughes, and later Raytheon.

She was a patriot who would always honor the military service of her family members. Her brothers John, and Bill served in the US Army; her brother Tom in the US Coast Guard, and husband Bill in the US Air Force. She became active in Long Beach public affairs, and joined the Long Beach Uptown Lions Club. She served as its Club President and Treasurer. She enjoyed working on club fund raising projects that produced funding for her Lions Club's donation to local charities.

She faced many critical health issues beginning in November, 2020, and courageously charted her survival path through three life threatening surgeries. She will be remembered, by those that know her well, for her devotion to her country, her devotion to her family, her devotion to her marriage of 48 years, and the courage she showed when faced with many life threatening medical conditions.

She is survived by her husband Bill of 48 years; children Mitch Kessler, Elizabeth Rector, Lisa D'Ambrosio, and Bill Kessler III; grand ckildren Annie and Sam Bernstein, Anthony and Kate D'Ambrosio; Emma, Harry, and Mattie Gillette; Katie Kessler, Alexander and Ben Rector.