Mary Louise Penisten

Mary Louise Penisten, 93, of El Dorado Hills, California, died peacefully under hospice care at home on Wednesday April 9, 2025, with her husband and youngest daughter by her side. She was born January 17, 1932, in Wichita, Kansas, the daughter of Lee and Dorothy Newman.

Mary attended high school in Ponca City, Oklahoma and graduated from Po-Hi in 1950. She was active in her church and enjoyed youth group activities there with her future husband. Mary worked at Spray’s Jewelry Store where she learned to help customers select fine china, crystal and jewelry. Her gift wrapping and bow making skills were forever unmatched!

On June 3, 1951, she married Glenn Eugene Penisten, and moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma while he finished college. So began an almost seventy-four-year-old love affair marked by numerous adventures.

Mary was extremely proud of her two daughters, Pamela Penisten Lambert, born in August 1955 and Tracy Diane Messineo, born in November 1959. She enjoyed sewing their clothes when they were young and even made a complete wardrobe of Barbie doll clothes one Christmas! As her daughters got older, she enjoyed leading spring and fall shopping sprees to outfit them in school clothes. Shopping excursions were topped off by fashion shows at home before dinner. Mary also volunteered as a girl scout leader for many years, starting when her girls were Brownies.

Mary was truly a “Jill of all trades.” She excelled at home decorating, cooking and gardening and enjoyed planning and hosting both formal and informal gatherings at homes in Palo Alto, Windsor and Rancho Mirage, CA as well as in Sidney, BC and Maui. She loved being on the water, whether Lake Dallas, the Chesapeake Bay or Canadian waters and was an accomplished crew member for yachts up to 67 feet. Mary enjoyed horseback riding, snow skiing, RV trips and 2-up Harley rides. She even took flying lessons and soloed! This enabled Mary to be the constant co-pilot on their many flying adventures.

In 2021, Glenn and Mary moved to El Dorado Hills, CA be closer to Tracy and their grandchildren, Ashley and Tyler.

Mary had faith in God, and loved and set high standards for her family. Her friends remember her grace, warm hospitality and great sense of humor.

Mary’s family would like to give a special thank you to her doctors and nurses at Sutter Roseville Hospital and Sutter Care at Home Hospice. The family is also grateful to Visiting Angels and Premier Comfort Care for their compassionate support.

Mary is survived by her beloved husband, Glenn Penisten; daughters Pamela Lambert (Lewis (Chip)), and Tracy Messineo (Lance), grandson Tyler Messineo, and granddaughter Ashley Messineo Blaesing (Jacob) as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

The family plans to celebrate and honor Mary at a private ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, please donate your time or money to your church or to the American Cancer Society in Mary’s honor.