Mary (Ortega) Negrete, 103, of Lewes, and formerly of Steelton, passed away peacefully Monday, May 18, 2026. Born in Brownsville, Texas, she was the daughter of the late Nicholas Ortega and Santos Villagas. She was the loving wife of the late Jose Negrete. She was also preceded in death by eight of her nine siblings.

Mary spent most of her life in Steelton, Pa., and was a member of Steelton Mennonite Church. She spent the past 10 years of her life living with her son in Lewes. She enjoyed doing puzzles, word searches, coloring books and making jewelry. She spent a great deal of time reading her Bible and watching TV ministries.  She loved getting cards in the mail and would keep every one, looking at them over and over again, along with photographs of her family and friends. She loved talking on the phone, sometimes for hours, with family and friends. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great‑grandmother and sister who will be deeply missed. 

 Mary is survived by her son, Ricardo Negrete; grandchildren Ricardo Negrete II, Rebecca Moore and Matthew Negrete; great-grandchildren Amanda Brown, Kodey Negrete, Lucas Moore and Noah Moore; great-great-grandchildren, Hope Straight and Katherine Brown; and her sister, Lois Flood.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, May 28, at Wiedeman Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 357 S Harrisburg St., Oberlin, Pa., with a viewing from 10 to 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Eby Cemetery in Leola, Pa.