Obituary of Mary Elizabeth Carpenter

Mary Elizabeth Carpenter of Chatsworth, our beloved mother, grandmother known as Noni to many, and friend, peacefully passed away surrounded in great love on November 15, 2014 at 8:12pm. Mary was born in North Dakota on August 15, 1925. She was part Chippewa Indian; her great grandmother was born on an Indian reservation. She worked hard from the age of 13 to help her family-her mother Josephine Pearl Beighley and younger brother Wayne Lee Beighley. That hard work ethic never ended. As a young woman she moved to Michigan, where she worked for a photography agency and soon met her husband, our beloved father, William Dean Carpenter. Their courtship before marriage was very short. Soon, they brought two children into this world, their beloved daughter Cathy Sue Carpenter and then their son, William Jay Carpenter. When the opportunity came to move to sunny California, they jumped on it and settled in Santa Monica, where their daughter Patti Lee Carpenter (Clark) was born. These were the good old days for Mary. Living close to the beach she would load up her 3 kids and the playpen and plop it down on Muscle Beach, where we spent our days. In 1960 the family moved to Northridge, California. In 1972 Mary began working at Cal State Northridge (CSUN). She loved her job. Her job and coworkers became her home away from home and her second family. Many knew her as “Carpie.” She retired in 1992 but missed it so much that she was able to return in 1997 and help out in various areas within Admissions and Records, with 2004 being her last time working on campus. Mary’s daughter Patti, who has worked at CSUN for the past five years, says that seldom does a week go by that that someone does not stop her in the hallway to ask about Mary and, more importantly, to share a funny story about her, of which there are many. Mom, you will be remembered by all for your sense of humor, big blonde hair, big beautiful smile, orange lipstick and fashionable style. Mary is survived by her son William Jay Carpenter and Patti Lee Clark; grandchildren Nicholas Jason Angelikis, Brandon Hamilton Clark, Conner William Carpenter and Courtney Elizabeth Clark Kenney; and great-grandchildren Isabella Nicolette Angelikis, Adrianna Lynn Angelikis, and her newest, 4 ½ month-old Luke Daniel Kenney.