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John F. Mahaney

January 27, 1922 — February 4, 2017

John F. Mahaney

John Francis Mahaney passed peacefully on February 4, 2017, a week after his 95th birthday. Born in Rochester, NY son of the late William and Mary Mahaney, and brother to the late Fred Mahaney and Sister Virginia Mahaney. John was an ambitious and hard worker always determined to build a future for himself and his family. He started work very young with odd jobs and as a teenager worked for Eastman Kodak. He attended the University of Michigan pursuing a degree in Chemistry and working odd jobs to pay his tuition and housing. WWII called after his sophomore year and he joined the Navy as a junior officer and went to the South Pacific aboard the USS Charrette as a gunnery officer. During a stopover in San Francisco he met Helen Jane Ford and began a romance and marriage that lasted 62 years until Helen's passing in 2008. After the war John completed his studies at Michigan and started work at a small agricultural chemical firm in Davis in outside sales. John loved traveling the back roads of California visiting farm supply stores selling agricultural chemicals. He loved the challenge of sales and in 1951 he founded his own farm supply wholesale firm out of his garage. The John F. Mahaney Company is still thriving and is now operated by his two sons. John was active in Holy Spirit parish, Loaves and Fishes, St. Vincent de Paul, Knights of Columbus, Elks Club (Lifetime Member), the Serra Club, SIRS, Navy League, and various dance clubs. During his retirement he volunteered many hours for the American Cancer Society by driving cancer patients to weekly treatments. He enjoyed traveling and cruises, reliving his Navy years, and camping and boating with his young family. John was always active, exercising daily and for many years working outdoors at the family ranch in the Sierra foothills which he truly loved. He loved his family and worked hard to provide wonderful opportunities for them. John is survived by his five children: Charlene Thelen (Michael), Stephen (Kathleen), Marian, Brian (Nancy), and JoAnne Buehler (David), and grandchildren Ryan, Kevin, Brendan, Kristin, Kelly, Patrick, Michael, Katherine, Colleen, Kelsey, and Kerrie and six great grandchildren. John is also survived by his second wife of six years, Elizabeth Beckley Mahaney. Visitation will be held Friday, February 17th at W. F. Gormley & Sons, 2015 Capitol Ave, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. with recitation of the Rosary at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 18th at Holy Spirit Church, 3159 Land Park Drive, Sacramento. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Loaves and Fishes or Sacramento Alzheimer's Association.
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Past Services

Visitation

Friday, February 17, 2017

6:00 - 7:00 pm (Pacific time)

W.F. Gormley & Sons Chapel

2015 Capitol Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95811

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Rosary

Friday, February 17, 2017

Starts at 7:00 pm (Pacific time)

W.F. Gormley & Sons Chapel

2015 Capitol Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95811

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Mass

Saturday, February 18, 2017

Starts at 11:00 am (Pacific time)

Holy Spirit Church

3159 Land Park Drive, Sacramento, CA 95818

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Graveside

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Starts at 10:00 am (Pacific time)

St. Mary's Cemetery

6700 21st Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95820

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