Mary Nunes said she was having a bad day. She was asked to attend a meeting at the Tulare Historical Museum, but she had four other previous commitments early in the day and it was impossible for her to make it to the gathering, an alleged planning session for a future fund-raiser.

She was told it was going to take just a few minutes.

But she didn't make it, and it appeared the ploy had failed.

However, the people who had planned to surprise her at the museum with the news she had been selected as the Tulare Woman of the Year weren't going to be denied.

They showed up at her home, and that's how she found out.

"It was a bigger surprise," Nunes said. "It just made my day. It's still making my day."

Nunes, born and raised in Tulare, was selected by the Tulare Chamber of Commerce as this year's Woman of the Year, highlighting more than 20 years of volunteering with several local organizations.

"She does what she does because she loves the community," said Jennifer McCoun, Tulare Chamber president and CEO.

"She believes in the community."

Nunes has volunteered at the World Ag Expo, working to promote Women in Agriculture during the farm show. She also volunteers at St. Aloysius Church, the Tulare City Historical Society and Tulare Historical Museum. She has also been a "Happy Cooker" at the farm show, hosted a family as part of the sister city program and organized countless fashion shows and makeovers to raise money for several organizations. More recently, Nunes has been part of Tastes Treats Tulare.

Nunes said when she thinks about her volunteer work, it is not too much.

"But it's when you write it down," she said.

Tulare Historical Museum Curator Ellen Gorelick said she asked Nunes to help set up rotating exhibits at the museum in 1985. Nunes was just one of the few people asked to participate in the project. Gorelick praised Nunes' volunteer work.

"Mary is one of those treasures who is always willing to help and she does a beautiful job," Gorelick said. "If Mary says she'll do something, I never have to worry about it."

Nunes is quick to point out her volunteer work wouldn't be the same without relatives and friends.

"Nobody can do this alone," she said. "No way I could do this if I didn't have family and friends who are willing to stop what they're doing and help you."

By Luis Hernandez
Tulare Advance-Register