Mary Frances Guilbert Mariani Bigler, Matriarch of Mariani Packing Company dies at 89

VACAVILLE, Calif., July 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Mary Frances Guilbert Mariani Bigler, the matriarch of the Mariani family passed away peacefully at her home in Los Altos, California from a short illness on June 23rd, 2012.  She now joins her first husband, Paul A. Mariani Jr., son of Mariani Packing Company's founder Paul A. Mariani, Sr., who preceded her in death in 1979. She is survived by her husband Dr. A. Rex Bigler, to whom she was married for 26 years, and numerous children, grand children and great-grand children.

Born in Manhattan, Kansas to Harold and Frances Steele Guilbert, Mary Frances moved to Davis, California when her father was appointed as Dean of Animal Husbandry at UC Davis.   She later met and married Paul A. Mariani Jr. and raised seven children including current Mariani Packing Company CEO, Mark Mariani.

Mary Frances helped shaped the culture of community at Mariani Packing Company; established in 1906 and now the largest independently owned dried fruit processor in the world; through her embodiment of the family and company core values.  To always treat others with mutual respect, embrace changes in life, never compromise on the quality of your contributions, and always strive for continuous improvement and to build a legacy for future generations.   She will be remembered by her family and friends for her ever present smile, contagious optimism, quick wit and loving spirit.

SOURCE Mariani Packing Company