Mary Olivia Dutra

Mary Olivia Dutra, nee Worm, passed away peacefully March 16, 2024. She was 92. Born on November 22, 1931 in Whitewater, Wisconsin, Mary lived a rich life dedicated to family and faith. 

Mary’s early life was tumultuous. Her adopted father, Olaf, passed away when she was only 6, and her and Lillian, her great aunt and adopted mother, moved throughout the Midwest. Lillian worked as a parish cook and maid, so they often lived in convents, allowing Mary to fortify her Catholic faith. 

As a young adult, Mary moved to California and worked at McDonnell Douglas as she raised her two children, Jacqueline and Michael, in Venice. In the ‘70s, she transitioned careers and worked as a nurse for decades before retiring in the 1990s. Mary was known to easily befriend people, including some stars of Old Hollywood like Mickey Rooney, and would swoon over their stories of golden times over a good steak (rare) and beer (ice cold). 

In her later years, Mary enjoyed volunteering in various ministries at local parishes and spending time with neighbors, friends, and family. Always enamored with nature, she found comfort in her dogs and cats, as well as Leo T, her beloved desert tortoise. Mary took Christ’s message of service seriously, and ended her life giving as much as she could to a variety of Catholic charities. 

Mary is survived by her daughter and son, Jacqueline Dutra and Michael Dutra, as well as six grandchildren (Chenoa, Cameron, Austin, Sophia, Olivia and Anna), four great-grandchildren (Isabella, Vivian, Hudson and Audrey), and her sister, Jan Lennon. The family would like to thank the nurses and staff who lovingly cared for her at Country Villa Sheraton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, as well as the priests and families at St. Rose of Lima Church who took the time to regularly visit her. 

The family is hosting a rosary on Thursday, April 18 at 7 p.m. at Reardon Funeral Home in Simi Valley. The funeral will be held on Friday, April 19 at 10 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima Church in Simi Valley. A burial in Mary’s hometown of Whitewater, Wisconsin, will take place in May.