Mary DeSaulniers

Mary DeSaulniers, age 92, a resident of Albuquerque since 1953, passed away on December 21, 2023. Mary was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, friend and neighbor. She touched the lives and hearts of all those she encountered. Mary was a dedicated parishioner at Our Lady of Assumption Church, volunteering as a Eucharist Minister and many other activities at the church and school her children attended. She volunteered at Birthright of Albuquerque for many years helping young pregnant women. She developed strong lasting relationships with many of the women who volunteered at Birthright from different parishes and churches around Albuquerque. Mary regularly went to the Presbyterian Healthplex where she exercised and took yoga classes and developed a number of friendships there as well. The Healthplex was right around the corner from where she lived with neighbors she very much loved. Mary enjoyed doing picture puzzles. She was an avid reader, checking out stacks of books from her neighborhood library, most of which were mysteries, especially those set in the southwest. She thoroughly enjoyed her morning paper with a cup of coffee. She watched the news shows on PBS and was always an active participant at the dinner table discussing the news and politics with the three generations that were often at the table.

Mary often commented how wonderfully kind and helpful so many people were with her-the pharmacist, handyman, landscape yardman, credit union financial consultant, a friend of the family who helped clean her house, and on and on and on. But how could anyone be anything but kind and helpful when Mary looked at you with those sincerely loving eyes and warm smile. There is just no other response anyone could have.

Mary grew up in Lake Geneva, WI with her younger sister Ginnie, whom she dearly loved all her life. She received a B.S. from Marquette University in 1953, majoring in sociology with minors in economics and philosophy. She moved to Albuquerque in 1953 and worked at Sandia National Laboratories where she met her husband, Lawrence ("Larry") whom she married in 1957. Larry was a widower who brought two children to the marriage-Norma who was severely developmentally disabled and resided at Beverly Farms in Illinois, and her younger sister Judy. Mary and Larry ended up having a total of eight children. They were married for over 50 years until his death in 2008. They were a most loving couple. Mary was certainly Larry's angel.

Mary received another bachelor degree from the University of Albuquerque in 1982 majoring in accounting. A few years later Mary worked at UNM's Contracts and Grants Accounting Department for several years, and again, developed strong lasting relationships with those she worked with and supported.

Mary is survived by her children Norma DeSaulniers, Steve DeSaulniers and wife Veronica Medina, Karen Dominguez and partner Buz Tyler, Yvonne Milord and husband Jim Milord, Janet DeSaulniers and partner Mike Rosch, Virginia ("Ginnie") DeSaulniers and Karl DeSaulniers. Grandchildren include Isiah Yarbrough and wife Stephanie Yarbrough, Stephen Goldsmith and wife Melanie Markum, Brittany Goldsmith, Anna DeSaulniers, and John Milord. Mary's great grandchildren are Riley Yarbrough, Kaiden Yarbrough, Westley Markum, Amilia Markum and Ethan Markum. Mary is also survived by her sister Virginia ("Ginnie") McCarthy. Mary was preceded in death by her husband Lawrence ("Larry") DeSaulniers and daughter Judith ("Judy") DeSaulniers.

Services will be held on Friday, January 19, 2024 at Our Lady of Assumption Church at 811 Guaymas Pl. NE (Lomas and Tennessee). Rosary will begin at 10:30AM and the funeral mass will follow at 11AM. A reception will follow at a venue to be determined. Memorial contributions may be made to Beverly Farm Foundation, 6301 Humbert Road, Godfrey, IL 62035-2163 or https://www.beverlyfarm.org/growing-our-family/