A HOUSE FAVORITE HER DEDICATION TO SICK KIDS STILL MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

Byline: Nicholas Grudin Staff Writer

It could be called the house that Mary built - the Ronald McDonald House of Los Angeles that shelters families of sick children and owes part of its existence to the commitment of one Glendale woman.

Mary Mason, now 88, has devoted more than 20 years of her life to the house, helping raise $10,000 to build the original home, serving on its board, and spending day after day helping parents cope with the pain of having very sick - sometimes dying - children.

``Mary's nickname is Queen Mary because she's a living legend at this house,'' said Diana Elias, assistant manager of the house, located in Los Feliz. ``She's been here since it was a mound of dirt.''

``Mary is incredible,'' echoed Dr. Stuart Siegel, director of hemotology-oncology at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and founding president of the Ronald McDonald House board of trustees. ``She would literally be in the house every day, and she hasn't slowed down.''

Today her commitment stretches even further as Mason dons a hard hat and grabs a shovel to break ground for a 52-room addition to the existing 32-room house. Honorary fund-raising chairman Kobe Bryant and several other big Los Angeles names will help start the expansion, which will make the house the largest of its kind in the world.

Through it all, Mason's motivation has remained simple.

``I just wanted to help, and I could see where I was needed,'' Mason said. ``It's just so rewarding helping other people.''

Mason's involvement started in 1980 with a needlepoint-rug fund-raiser that went better than expected.

Mason got her alumnae sorority sisters at the University of California, Los Angeles, together and earned thousands for the construction of the house.

``Ten of us working with the sorority asked how we could help. They said we could raise money - they said if we raised $10,000 in four years we would be put on the founder's board. We raised $10,000 in two years,'' Mason said.

Wednesday, as Mason strolled through the house that she helped build, she was stopped outside the kitchen and reminded yet again of why she has committed so much of her life to it.

Lorraine Velasquez, whose daughter Alexis was in critical condition at Childrens Hospital, told Mason she could not have coped without the help of Ronald McDonald House.

Three weeks ago, Alexis was near death with a ruptured appendix. Lorraine's husband, Richard Velasquez, was in Kuwait with his Marine unit awaiting orders to invade Iraq.

Lorraine Velasquez was alone and reeling.

Then Ronald McDonald House members heard about the Velasquez family and took them in, giving them subsidized housing, free food, games for the Velasquezes' youngest daughter, and counseling for Lorraine.

``We never expected to have to come here,'' Lorraine Velasquez said in a faltering voice, her teary eyes meeting with Mason's. ``We never could have afforded this without you.''

Since then, Richard Velasquez has returned to the United States to be at his daughter's side, and she is recovering. Four of the Marines in Velasquez's 1st Tank Battalion, Charlie Company, were killed last week, he said Wednesday.

Drying her tears, Mason said that despite the often sad stories, the house has been a happy place for her and thousands who have stayed there.

``Even when we lose kids, the kids have had a wonderful time here,'' Mason said. ``They say this is the house that love built, and that is still very true.''

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Photo:

Mary Mason, 89, of Glendale chats with Hiranmie Padinjatiyaduth, 6, at the Ronald McDonald House in Los Angeles. Mason founded the home, which is getting a major expansion, more than 20 years ago for families of sick children.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer