Mariella Birdsall, baptized Maria Assunta Lauretta Francesca Debono Pace Feraud, was born in Victoria, Gozo on 27 April 1949. Gozo is one of three inhabited islands in the group of islands known as Malta.

Her beginning years were with the Urusolini Sisters in Sliema Malta. In December 1955 she was legally adopted by Oscar and Maria Pace Feraud. Mariella's Angel, her mother, passed away in 1963, when Mariella was only 14. As she was growing up, she had many friends that looked after her. The most influential of these was the Nicholl Family: Tony Nicholl and his wife Yvonne, along with Dada and Lillian, were incredible fixtures in her life. Tony was Malta's Football (Soccer) Player of the Century, and Yvonne made the best chips (French fries) in the world. Mariella found an incredible family in the Nicholls … Roma (Tony Griffiths), Pat (Edgar Izzo), Tony ż-Żigħr (Greta), and Theresa (Dalli) served as her siblings, while Doreen and Diana Nicholl (the Twins) were that, plus her best friends and confidants.

Mariella was an outstanding athlete and musician. She was a ruthless soccer, water polo and tennis player. She also had a fantastic singing voice, and played the violin by ear. She often performed in front of large audiences, as well as on the radio.

In 1970, she met Dave Birdsall at a Preluna Hotel dance, while the USS John F. Kennedy was docked in the Maltese Grand Harbour. They spent the evening dancing and talking, and continued getting to know each other as pen pals and during subsequent Malta port calls.  After returning to the United States, Dave couldn't stop thinking of her. He soon wrote Mariella a letter, asking her to marry him.

Amazingly, Mariella said YES!!! Mariella left Malta for the very first time, arriving in San Francisco on 19 December 1971. On 31 December they were married. They spent their honeymoon split between Disneyland and Las Vegas. As the years passed, Las Vegas remained an exciting place for Mariella to visit. Seven days after exchanging vows, Dave left for a nine month cruise on an aircraft carrier to the Western Pacific (VietNam). During this time, Mariella lived with Dave's parents, Douglas and Nancy, in Clairemont, California. Getting to know her personality, quick wit, and listening to her sing the entire score from Our Fair Lady in its multiple dialects, Mariella was quickly embraced by his parents and grandparents. New to the States, Dave's parents began teaching Mariella how to drive. Shortly after receiving her temporary driver's license, she was pulled over for turning left from a right hand lane, speeding, going through a stoplight, evading arrest, and a few other violations. She told the nice police officer, in her beautiful British accent, that she didn't know he was playing that "klinky-klinky" for her. He got a good laugh, and gave her a warning; telling her that if she didn't figure it out that she wouldn't have her license very long.

The following year, Dave deployed again to the Western Pacific.  This time Mariella followed the ship! She got to spend time in the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Japan. Most of her time was spent in the Philippines, so she was able to find joy volunteering at a home for unwed mothers, while learning Tagalog. This ignited her lifelong interest to travel!

However, that had to wait, since as the cruise ended, the Birdsalls found themselves expecting their first child! Dave decided to leave the Navy, and they settled in Clairemont, California, where he accepted a position with General Dynamics. Six months into his new career, they accepted a six month assignment to Groton, Connecticut, which gifted them the opportunity to see most of the United States, as well as Mariella's first encounter with snow.

Not long after they returned to the West Coast, General Dynamics moved their Data Systems Division to San Diego.  Mariella and Dave settled in Rancho Penasquitos in 1976, where they raised their four children (Dawn Marietta, Diane Nadine, Douglas Paul Michael and Danielle Lynn) and have resided ever since.

In mid-1977, on the 1st day of a month long visit to Malta, Mariella was tossing a water polo ball at the Sliema Pitch. The coach spotted her, and asked if she would like to join his Division 1 team. She was an impact player throughout the next month, playing both goalie and field. The Birdsalls returned to Malta every few years.  It was her happy place and their second home. She had three of her children baptized in Malta. On these trips to Malta, she loved planning side trip adventures to Belgium, England, France, Germany, Greece , Holland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lourdes, Monaco, Sicily, Switzerland, Tunisia, and Turkey.

Mariella was an exceptional athlete. She introduced Dave to soccer, and they began coaching together in 1977, where they left an incredible, long-lasting legacy. At a coaching clinic, she was recruited by a member of Mike's Mamas and joined their local soccer team. She played with them for twenty years and absolutely loved the camaraderie.

As she was raising her four children, Mariella spent years coaching soccer, volunteering at schools, driving to sports practices (which was especially challenging with all four children playing for different clubs in various towns), playing tennis, swimming and spending time with the great network of friends she grew over the years. Mariella would meet many of her special friends (Fran Stone, Sehnaz Endreson and many others) weekly for coffee over the years.  Anyone that attended would be guaranteed an incredible time, listening to stories and jokes that would keep everyone smiling, laughing and looking forward to the next gathering.

Mariella was an exceptionally proud and charismatic mother and wife. She loved spending time with her family and was always there when they needed advice, a good laugh, or a lunch date.

The only thing that brought her more joy was having grandchildren!  She has seven grandchildren, ages 7 – 22. Every day for the last twenty-two years has included precious time with them. Every one of them loved spending time with their Nanna (Nana) and she made it obvious to everyone that she adored them. She bragged about them constantly and made sure they knew how loved and important they were. They loved how she never held back a joke, sharing her incredible sense of humor and reminders of how to not take life too seriously. Ashley, Kyle, Cleighton, Colton, Phaelan, Easton and Abigayle all know how fortunate they are to have grown up under her watchful eye.

In January 2022 Mariella and Dave celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary by taking their family to Kauai, Hawaii! This trip was a special family adventure that included sightseeing, hikes, hours in the pool, and nightly family dinners that ended with seventeen chairs around a bon fire, playing games and listening to stories. This trip was a highlight for Mariella, because her family was enjoying life together; it will forever be a special memory