JENNIE LEAH MARK SANTORO Obituary (1928 - 2016)

Jennie Leah Mark Santoro (Jennie), age 88, loving mother, sister, friend and philanthropist passed away of natural causes March 13, 2016/10:30 pm/mdt at Intermountain Medical Center's (IMC's) Respiratory ICU Unit, Murray, UT. Born April 12, 1928 in Murray, UT to Leva Mark and Gabriel Mark. Jennie was a staunch practicing Roman Catholic who fiercely defended and promoted her Roman Catholic faith. Jennie was an active member of the St. Vincent' De Paul's Roman Catholic Parish, Holladay, UT, St. Vincent's Alter Society, St. Vincent's Golden Club, and the Murray, UT Heritage Club. She was a talented homemaker, gardener, fabulous cook, philanthropist and champion of human rights. Jennie had a gentle, loving, caring nature and enjoyed helping others. Jennie and her son were staunch champions, advocates, supporters and activists for the poor, the underprivileged, those with no voice, underprivileged children, people in the USA who were and are undocumented and the elderly. Jennie and her son donated often, anonymously, to and helped raise funds for several charities, causes and foundations, most affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church in both the UT Diocese and Los Angeles, CA Archdiocese. During a pilgrimage to Rome, Italy and the Vatican in 2008, Jennie met with Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peters Square. Jennie was a very devout and practicing Roman Catholic. Jennie loved to travel and visited her son often at his various CA beach residences in La Jolla, CA, Newport Beach, CA, Laguna Beach, CA, Marina del Rey, CA and Brentwood, CA. Jennie and her son championed civil rights for undocumented workers and advocated aggressively for humane, fair and just immigration and naturalization for these undocumented workers in the USA. Jennie was also a staunch supporter of education at all levels, with a focus on underprivileged children. She is survived by her son and only child, Los Angeles, CA (Marina del Rey, CA) and UT multi-millionaire private investor, philanthropist, social media blogger and activist and insurance/reinsurance shareholder, senior executive officer, Board Director and CEO, Stephen Samuel Santoro; as well as her sister Mildred Mark Scolari, Midvale, UT. She is also survived by her "adopted second son", Jeffrey Weston Shields, Esq., Salt Lake City, UT one of America's top 100 lawyers, who was her and her son's personal lawyer and her son's closest, best and most trusted friend, whom she greatly respected, loved and adored. Funeral Mass will be held Monday, March 21, 2016, at 11:00 am/mdt at the St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church, 1385 East Spring Lane, Salt Lake City, UT 84117, 801-272-9216. Also at St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church, friends may gather and pay their respects Sunday, March 20, 2016, from 6:30-7:00 pm, with a Rosary to follow at 7:00 pm. A Committal at Murray City Cemetery will follow Mass, Monday, March 21, 2016. Jennie's wishes and requests of all friends and family is to make donations to her favorite charitable organizations who are: The Los Angeles, CA Archdiocese. St. Monica's parish, Santa Monica, CA, and St. Mark's parish, Venice, CA who are within the Los Angeles, CA Archdiocese; the UT Diocese in Salt Lake City, UT, St. Vincent's De Paul Parish, Holladay, UT; and the Sisters of Charity of the Virgin Mary, globally in all parts of the world. Funeral Directors: Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary, Murray, UT. Online condolences may be shared at www.jenkins-soffe.com. Funeral Home: Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary-Murray 4760 South State Street Murray, UT