Lucretia Mary Cronin

Lucretia Mary "Lu" Cronin, born on August 14, 1927, danced into Heaven on February 12, 2018 from Encinitas, CA. Lu was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Anthony Maggiore and Mary Sanfilippo Maggiore. She married Robert Cronin in 1949 and the two moved to California. They were long time residents of Glendora, where they raised three exceptional children, and four average ones.

Lu's long life was founded in her Italian roots and her Catholic faith. It was filled with optimism, adventure, humor and joy and she treated others with love and respect. Her 90 year journey, including several years with Alzheimer's Disease, epitomized the Lord's directive to "Love your neighbor as yourself." Her zest for life supported her long time claim that her age was "39 and holding."

During the 55 years she lived in Glendora, Lu was involved in a wide range of civic activities, including the Glendora Public Library, Foothill Presbyterian Hospital, the Glendora Community Coordinating Council, the Kiwaniannes Club and the Glendora Chamber of Commerce. She was recognized as the Glendora Community Coordinating Council's Person of the Year in 1989, and the Glendora Chamber of Commerce's Ambassador of the Year in 2000 and its Citizen of the Year in 2001. She was a volunteer at Damien High School before serving on the staff of St. Lucy's High School for 17 years. She was an active volunteer and member of St. Dorothy's Catholic Church for over 50 years.

On the social entertainment scene, she was well known for her innovative "clean out the freezer" dinner parties and such culinary exploits as Nacho Dorito chocolate chip cookies, her "secret ingredient meatloaf" and her infamous "chicken chips." Although her love of life touched many people, she felt her greatest accomplishment was raising seven children with her husband, Bob. We'll see you in Heaven, Mom.

Lu was preceded in death by her husband Robert and is survived by two sisters, Antoinette Maggiore "Toni" Gildersleeve and Agatha Maggiore "Aggie" Michaels, her children Larry (Ginny), Dan, John (Cindy), Tom (Teresa), Mary, Nancy, Joe, 16 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

A funeral mass followed by a Celebration of Life will held at St. Dorothy's Catholic Church in Glendora at 10am on Friday, February 23. Interment will follow. Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn, Covina Hills, California. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Lu Cronin Memorial Scholarship Fund at St. Lucy's Priory High School: www.stlucys.com (in "donate now" screen, select "add special instructions" and type in "Lu Cronin Memorial."