Mary Ann Ottino-Sternal

Celebration of Life:

It is with great sadness that we say goodbye, for now, to our beloved Mary Ann Ottino-Sternal of Pueblo West, CO who passed away on January 12, 2025, just one month after she completed her 74th trip around the sun. 

 MaryAnn was born December 3, 1950, in Pueblo, CO to John and Mary Ottino (née Micalone), first generation immigrants from Italy who instilled their strong values of hard work, faith, and family into their seven children. Mary Ann was the feisty fourth child sandwiched between her elder siblings, Adeline Griffin (deceased), Carolyn (Vince) Linden, John (Linda) Ottino and younger siblings Madlyn (Don) Reeves, Barbara Tulley, and Jim (Barb) Ottino. She grew up to cultivate special and unique relationships with all of them that extended to each of their children- and their children’s children. Dubbed the “nightingale” by her uncle Joe Micalone, she distinguished herself as the family songbird, singing and teaching herself to play the piano at a young age, aided by her talented uncle Joe Ottino. 

 MaryAnn attended St. Leander’s Catholic School grades 1 – 8 and graduated from East High School, class of 1968, where she was a fixture in the elite Les Jongleurs choir, crowned the Homecoming Queen, and made lifelong friendships.  She married her high-school sweetheart in 1969 and this union produced her two daughters; Stephanie (Dan) Smith and Emily (Bryan Williams) Booth, who she loved beyond measure.  

 While raising her daughters, she worked for Mountain Bell (later US West) as both an operator and in the mail room. She navigated the complications of life with all the challenges and choices that impact a life’s direction, but her value of family, friendships, and boundless love never wavered.  

 In 1987, she married Lee Sternal. For 37 years they lived in their beautiful home in Pueblo West built by her brother Jim.  During this chapter, she was finally free to pursue her vast creative, intellectual, and spiritual interests and she did so with gusto! She took courses at the university, attended workshops and retreats, and enthusiastically engaged in searches to explore her faith, deepen her understanding of her inner self, and satisfy her love of learning and wonder. The bookshelves of her home were filled with volumes she voraciously read, tagged, and made notes in. Her favorite topics ranged from history, art, politics, theology, philosophy, self-reflection, and the complexity of the human condition.  

 During this chapter, she also became passionately devoted to the loves of her life, her “soul pups” Twist, Minnie, Link, and Ozzy.  She walked hundreds of miles on the trails behind her home and along the neighborhood streets pondering the “big” questions… always accompanied by her beloved pups, and often by dear friends. 

MaryAnn kept her home and yard to an impeccable standard of beauty and engaged in community volunteer activities that aligned with her passions, interests, and giving nature.  She shared her time serving on multiple community boards including Paws for Life Animal Shelter and numerous other volunteer endeavors in the greater Pueblo community. One of her favorites was bringing her exceptional companion, Minnie, her spunky miniature schnauzer, for pet therapy to the Colorado State Hospital and various senior care/living facilities in Pueblo. 

 Playing the piano and singing were some of her most memorable talents.  She loved to share her beautiful voice and self-taught piano skills whenever she could. Whether it was serving as a cantor at Christ the King church, singing for both weddings and funerals, or simply for her personal pleasure at her upright piano in a dedicated room of her home, music was a central part of her life and legacy. There was rarely a family occasion that didn’t include her singing and playing while we all gathered around the piano to listen and sing along.  

For all who were blessed to meet her during her wonderful and complicated journey, the world feels a little less bright without the radiance that shined from her movie-star smile and the inexhaustible well of love in her heart. She simultaneously valued the earth-bound human connections that filled her days while pondering the esoteric questions concerning the true meaning of life and the importance of spiritual awakening that filled her soul. A difficult but fulfilling endeavor. 

Attempting to encapsulate the essence and existence of a woman who meant so much to so many is an insurmountable undertaking. She made friends wherever she went, from every walk of life, in every environment. Over the past two years of her life, the circle of the love and care she provided others was returned by her daughters, family and friends; her miracle stray kitty companion, Jack; and a team of extraordinary women– Tuesday, Geo, Haley, and Aeron– who shared their skills and hearts on a level that is difficult to articulate. They provided incredible kindness, care, and understanding during this very difficult final chapter.  

 MaryAnn was a self-described dreamer.  She searched and pondered her purpose and was affected, inspired, and deeply concerned by the events that happened to others within her family, her community, and around the world.  She will be remembered for her exceptional beauty, her angelic voice, her sweet and giving nature, and most of all for her genuine interest, love, and gratitude for her family, friends, animals, and humanity.  

 A Celebration of Life will be held: 

Saturday, February 15, 2025 11:00 am   

Pueblo Union Depot 

132 W. B Street, Pueblo CO 81003 

In lieu of flowers, a donation in memory of Mary Ann Ottino-Sternal may be made to the following organizations: 

 Lewy Body Dementia Association 

 lbda.org  

912 Killian Hill Road SW Suite 105 Lilburn, GA 30047 

Paws for Life 

 pawspueblo.org  

800 N. Pueblo Boulevard Pueblo, CO 81003  

Sangre de Cristo Community Care 

https://www.sangre.org/donate-now2/ 

1920 Valley Dr  

Pueblo, CO 81008