Mary Elizabeth Gibbs

It is with heavy hearts, and a profound sense of relief for her peace, that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, and sister, Mary Elizabeth DeMeo Gibbs.

Mom was diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia in 2014, and for 12 years, FTD slowly took from us the woman we knew — the one who showed her love through food she labored over in the kitchen, who crafted with her hands, who danced to Paul Simon’s Graceland album while she cleaned the house. If you knew Mary, you knew that love was her first language, and she spoke it in everything she did.

FTD is a cruel and often misunderstood disease. It steals a person long before they are gone, and it asks everything of the families who walk alongside them. Our family has lived that journey, and we want those who loved her to understand both the depth of our grief and the weight of these 12 years.

We are deeply and forever grateful to the staff at Brookdale Kettleman Lane, where Mom was lovingly cared for over the past 9 years. Special thanks to Delma, Domnique, Nurse Sara, Nurse Jessica, Lewis, Cecliy, and Mary Margaret — you treated her with dignity and tenderness, and you became family to us. We also wish to thank the staff at O'Connor Woods- specifically Nurse Kim who supported our family in the early days of Mom’s diagnosis, and her extraordinary neurologist Dr. Blondell Gage Chism, whose guidance meant the world to us. We are also thankful for Nurse Sasha of Hospice of San Joaquin, whose care and compassion in Mom's final days brought our family great comfort. And to our family reverend, Reverend Sheldon Hutchison — thank you for your steadfast spiritual presence and support throughout this long journey.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Ada and Nicholas DeMeo of Half Moon Bay, CA; her youngest brother, John DeMeo; and her husband, Scott Gibbs.

She is survived by her three daughters, Erin, Cara, and Lindsay (and their husbands Dave, Jim, and Matt); her grandchildren, Derek, Matthew, Alex, and William; her brothers Gilbert and Nicholas DeMeo; and her sister-in-law Deborah Feldmann.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family asks that donations be made in Mary's memory to one of the following organizations:

• St. Anthony's Dining Room, San Francisco — stanthonysf.org

• Hilarity for Charity — wearehfc.org

• The Association for Frontotemporal Dementia — theaftd.org

• Hospice of San Joaquin — hospicesj.org

She is finally at rest. And she is so loved.