Mary Helen Hernandez, 72, of Niceville, FL passed away on Thursday, May 21, 2015. Ms. Hernandez was born in Oakland, CA and graduated from Edison High School. She worked as a community aide for Stockton Unified School District for several years as well as a City Transit bus driver. Ms. Hernandez owned and operated two restaurants in Stockton and Linden, CA. After she retired, she moved to Florida. Her hobbies included: dancing, synchronized swimming, bowling, archery, softball, sewing and cooking. Mrs. Hernandez won several awards in dance competitions and beauty pageants. She advocated and served many in her community for several years and volunteered her time by serving the elderly, teaching dance and swimming to members of her local community. If you were to ask Mary she would say her proudest accomplishments were raising strong, independent, loving children and being the center of her loving family. Mrs. Hernandez is preceded in death by her parents, Jesus Hernandez and Mary Helen Hernandez Nunes. Survivors include her daughters, Magdalena J. Gatzman of Niceville, FL, Juliet B. John of Justin, TX, Mary Elizabeth Bomparola of Sacramento, CA and Domenica M. Ayala of Lodi, CA; son, Ramon F. Rangel of Navarre, FL; grandsons, Derek Montecalvo, Andy Behler (CiCi), John Gatzman, Kyle Gatzman, Dominic John, Stefano Bomparola and Giorgio Bomparola; granddaughter, Madison John; as well as her sisters, Maria Lupe Davalos of Stockton, CA and Josephine Rodriguez of Galt, CA. A Memorial Mass will be held 1:00 pm, Thursday, May 28, 2015 at St. Sylvester Catholic Church in Navarre, FL. The family would like to thank Margaret R. Padilla and Nurses, CNA's and staff at the Manor of Blue Water Bay.