Mary Ann Dussel

Mary Ann Pepin, Forbes, Carrigan, Dussel was born in Denver, Colorado on July 26, 1923. She was the daughter of Thomas J. Pepin and Elizabeth Pepin.
Mary was first married to Russell H. Forbes Jr. and they were blessed with 2 daughters and a son. Maryrose Pearson Kakuschke, David A, Forbes, and Susan L. Forbes Welbaum. She also was blessed with 2 granddaughters, Devon Rose Lopez and Jennifer Ann Scardina, and 2 grandsons, Robert Russell Forbes and Michael Patrick Forbes, and a Great Grandson Steven P. Glover.

Mary and Russell married in 1946 in Denver, Colorado, and started their family Maryrose and a few years later a son David.

Russell also had a hobby/passion of being a race car driver on an oval track in Denver. I can remember Mary doing what was called Powder Puff derby racing for women. I don’t remember if she won any trophies, but I do remember David was a young child during that time. She also handed out the trophies to the race winners.

The family resided in Denver till 1951 when they decided to move to Los Angeles, California. Lived in Santa Monica and then purchased their home in Los Angeles. There they continued the family with their second daughter Susan.

Russell had learned to play many instruments as a child and a young adult & one was the piano. We grew up with him playing the piano all the time in our home and Mary would sing the songs and we would sometimes sing along too. They would have guests over often and everyone would sing along, and some would bring instruments that they played also. Mary often would sing songs she liked throughout the day. She had a nice voice. Mary would tuck us in bed and we would say prayers before we would go to sleep. We were members of the Holy Faith Episcopal Church in Inglewood. We were an active family, involved in dance, scouts, church, choir, baseball, swimming, surfing, and hobbies.

Eventually, the family moved to Hermosa Beach, CA and Russell started his own business of selling and installing electric garage door openers. Maryrose in High School and David in Jr. High and Susan in elementary. Mary had done assembly work at an early age during the war. Now with the space program in full swing at this time, Mary went to work at a company that built parts for it. She was put on a secret project in a secret room that built items that went into the Apollo spaceship control panels.

Mary and Russell were active members of the Elks Club in Redondo Beach and active members of St. Cross Episcopal Church in Hermosa Beach.

A couple of years after Russell passed away, Mary remained associated with the Elks. A friend of Mary introduce her to H. Earl Carrigan and that relationship blossomed into marriage. They enjoyed dancing at the Elks over the years. They also had a favorite Mexican restaurant they would go to. Earl blessed our family with a daughter Avie Carrigan, 10 years old. Avie spent weekends and holidays with them. She also did some traveling with them. They enjoyed traveling to Tennessee, Colorado and Las Vegas, and other states.

Mary and Earl were also active in saving the desert tortoises. She also enjoyed gardening. They eventually relocated to Calimesa, CA. They were active with the Elks and American Legion. She was a member of the Garden Club and attended The Women’s Exercise groups, and did crafting of jewelry,

They were happily married for 25 years and he passed away.

Mary stayed active with her clubs. Frank (a widower) was a member of the American Legion. He eventually introduced himself and after a while ask Mary out on a date and eventually, they became a couple. She became active with his church United Methodist Church and they not long after got married. They lived in Yucaipa, CA. They remained active with their clubs and church and organizations. They also did some traveling to Hawaii and Alaska and other states. In 2019 Mary and Frank went into a care facility in Yucaipa and finish out their last few years there. Mary was 98 years old.

She lived a fun-filled life and was known for her hobby of being nice, she was just the kindest, sweetest person. Mary passed peacefully in her home. She will be greatly missed by all she leaves behind.