Mariel Nona McGlashan passed away peacefully in Auburn just two months short of what would have been her 100th birthday.
She was born to Maqueda (McGlashan) Shinn who died at Nona's birth. Nona was then adopted and raised in Truckee, California, by her grandparents, Leonora and Charles F. McGlashan. She spent some of her teen years in Auburn, with her aunt and uncle Lotus, and author Jackson Gregory.
Nona attended college at Immaculate Heart College, Hollywood, graduating with a B.A. degree in English. She became a member of the Sisters of Social Service in 1936, and was sent to China in 1946 as a Superior, to establish a Chinese branch of the Sisters of Social Service. However the triumph of the Communists in the Chinese Civil War caused her return to the United States in 1948. Her experiences are described in her book, "O Days Of Wind and Moon" written in 1997.
Upon her return to the U.S. she worked primarily with at risk youngsters in the Ghetto of Los Angeles.
In 1956 she left her religious order for health and personal reasons, but continued working with at risk youngsters, and as a counselor at Ojai Academy. In her 70's she sought to advance her writing abilities and returned to San Francisco State University to do graduate work obtaining a Masters Degree in Radio and Television.
In later years she wrote several books and is probably best known for "Give Me A Mountain Meadow," a biography about her grandfather C.F. McGlashan, well known as the author of the first history of the Donner Party, based on interviews with all the surviving members of the tragedy. In 1986, she and cousin Betty, edited "From the Desk of C.F. McGlashan," consisting of a collection of letters and information about early Truckee -Tahoe adventures. She also wrote a documentary on the Truckee area called "Sierra Pioneers." In 2003, she published a collection of her poems under the title "Musings."
Nona was honored as a third generation Truckee resident, and made Grand Marshal of the 4th of July celebration there in 1997.
She is survived by a number of second cousins.
Her Internment was in the family plot in Truckee. A Memorial Mass was held at St. Joseph's Church in Auburn on Thursday, January 27, 2011 at 10:00 am, preceded by a Rosary at 9:45 am.
Published in Gold Country Media Newspapers on Jan. 23, 2011
See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/edhtelegraph/obituary.aspx?n=mariel-nona-mcglashan&pid=148044717#sthash.JRXlq729.dpuf
She was born to Maqueda (McGlashan) Shinn who died at Nona's birth. Nona was then adopted and raised in Truckee, California, by her grandparents, Leonora and Charles F. McGlashan. She spent some of her teen years in Auburn, with her aunt and uncle Lotus, and author Jackson Gregory.
Nona attended college at Immaculate Heart College, Hollywood, graduating with a B.A. degree in English. She became a member of the Sisters of Social Service in 1936, and was sent to China in 1946 as a Superior, to establish a Chinese branch of the Sisters of Social Service. However the triumph of the Communists in the Chinese Civil War caused her return to the United States in 1948. Her experiences are described in her book, "O Days Of Wind and Moon" written in 1997.
Upon her return to the U.S. she worked primarily with at risk youngsters in the Ghetto of Los Angeles.
In 1956 she left her religious order for health and personal reasons, but continued working with at risk youngsters, and as a counselor at Ojai Academy. In her 70's she sought to advance her writing abilities and returned to San Francisco State University to do graduate work obtaining a Masters Degree in Radio and Television.
In later years she wrote several books and is probably best known for "Give Me A Mountain Meadow," a biography about her grandfather C.F. McGlashan, well known as the author of the first history of the Donner Party, based on interviews with all the surviving members of the tragedy. In 1986, she and cousin Betty, edited "From the Desk of C.F. McGlashan," consisting of a collection of letters and information about early Truckee -Tahoe adventures. She also wrote a documentary on the Truckee area called "Sierra Pioneers." In 2003, she published a collection of her poems under the title "Musings."
Nona was honored as a third generation Truckee resident, and made Grand Marshal of the 4th of July celebration there in 1997.
She is survived by a number of second cousins.
Her Internment was in the family plot in Truckee. A Memorial Mass was held at St. Joseph's Church in Auburn on Thursday, January 27, 2011 at 10:00 am, preceded by a Rosary at 9:45 am.
Published in Gold Country Media Newspapers on Jan. 23, 2011
See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/edhtelegraph/obituary.aspx?n=mariel-nona-mcglashan&pid=148044717#sthash.JRXlq729.dpuf
