Mario Luis Pereira

Mario Luis Pereira, age 65, of Sacramento, California, passed away on May 15, 2026.

Mario was born on March 6, 1961, in Santo Amaro, a small village on the island of Pico in Portugal’s Azores. He was the beloved son of Joaquim Luis Pereira and Noemia Luis Pereira. At the age of seven, Mario immigrated to the United States with his parents, and they settled in Sacramento, California, where he proudly made his home for the rest of his life.

For more than 40 years, Mario dedicated himself to Sutter Health, where he built a remarkable career from Engineering to Facilities leadership, earning the respect of colleagues across multiple hospitals. He was known for his exceptional work ethic, reliability, and commitment to doing every job to the best of his ability.

Mario was fiercely competitive and loved sports, whether he was playing them or watching them. He loved being active, cheering on his favorite local teams, and enjoyed a good poker game.

Mario’s greatest passion, however, was deer hunting and the outdoors. A lifelong hunter, he traveled throughout California and across the western United States in pursuit of big game, but his true love was chasing blacktail deer in California’s Mendocino National Forest. He was the driving force behind Four Pines Hunting Club, which he established in 2008 as the fulfillment of a longtime dream. Whether improving wildlife habitat, sharing the ranch with family and friends, or simply enjoying the quiet of the woods, Four Pines was his favorite place and where he felt most at peace. Mario was also deeply committed to wildlife conservation and served as the first Sacramento Chapter Chair of the Mule Deer Foundation.

Those who knew Mario will remember his fun-loving personality, curiosity, and determination to master anything that interested him. He enjoyed learning new skills, sharing his knowledge with others, and striving to perfect every hobby or craft he pursued. Above all, he loved his family and friends and cherished the time spent with them.

Mario was married to Joyce Ann Hugo, and together they built a loving family. He devotedly helped raise Joyce’s son, Dino Allan Sani, and together they had two daughters, Lena Ann Pereira (Pereira-Henriquez) and Marisa Ann Pereira (Gordillo). Lena is married to Rafael Pereira-Henriquez, and together they have a daughter, Alisia Pereira-Henriquez, Mario’s beloved granddaughter. Marisa is married to Gerson Gordillo.

Mario was also married to Corinna Warehime and lovingly helped raise her two daughters—later his goddaughters—Jada Everon and Maya Everon, as his own. Maya, now Maya Upshaw, is married and has a daughter, Sophia Upshaw.

Mario was preceded in death by his father, Joaquim Luis Pereira; his beloved madrinha, Maria Teixeira; and all of his aunts and uncles.

He is survived by his mother, Noemia Luis Pereira; his children, Lena Pereira-Henriquez, and Marisa Gordillo; his granddaughter, Alisia Pereira-Henriquez; his stepdaughters, Jada Everon and Maya Upshaw; his step-granddaughter, Sophia Upshaw; and many extended family members and dear friends who will miss him deeply.

Though he is no longer with us, Mario’s memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved him. His legacy of hard work, love for the outdoors, competitive spirit, and unwavering devotion to family and friends will continue to inspire those whose lives he touched.

A Funeral Mass will be held in Mario’s honor on Saturday, June 20th at 1pm at St. Mary Funeral Center, 6509 Fruitridge Road, Sacramento, CA 95820. A Celebration of Life will immediately follow, also at St. Mary Funeral Center