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6801 SW SUNSET HWY
Portland, Oregon
Mary Ellen Anderson, 73, of Portland, Oregon, passed away September 8th, 2017. She was born in Portland, Oregon on April 25, 1944 to Walter Henry von Allmen and Frances Louise von Allmen.
Mary graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School and received a Bachelors in Business from Portland State University. Mary was a homemaker and loved spending time with her family and socializing with her vast networks of friends. Some of her favorite pastimes included gardening, flowers, and animals with a genuine love of the Oregon Coast and Central Oregon. All of her pastimes were shared with family and friends.
She loved the holiday season, spending time with family and friends, hosting events always with extensive decorating efforts, earning her the nickname, ‘Mary-Martha.’’ With boundless energy, she also enjoyed baking her favorite dishes, crafting cocktails, and entertaining. Her family and friends are what provided her endless joy and it made no difference if it was through social gatherings, sports, grandkids school, or just simply hanging with all the kids. She loved it all!
Much of her time over the last decade was devoted to her number one passion, her family, especially her four grandkids. She also made a special effort to get to know all her children’s friends and their kids too. No one was off limits. She was a staple at grandkids sporting events, school activities, and introduced them to the arts and other unique experiences around Portland. Taking so much joy from this, she was even a surrogate grandma for friends’ children on occasion.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Frances von Allmen.
She is survived by her sons, Willie (Sarah) and Brad (Sopie); grandchildren, Paley (9), Sullie (7), Zaack (11) and Viggo (9); brother Dan (Anne); nieces, Kim, and Kirsten, and nephews, Corey (Stephanie) and Brian (Amanda); great nephews & nieces; Atreyu, Bodie, Brooklyn, Parker and EvaBell.
The family would like to thank Mary’s entire care team at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center for the incredible care they provided her. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a donation to the Providence St. Vincent Medical Foundation – Heart Institute.
A memorial gathering will be held on September 22nd at First Baptist Church, 909 SW 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97205 at 4:00pm. A reception is to follow at the Multnomah Athletic Club, 1849 SW Salmon St, Portland, OR 97205. Please visit www.finleysunsethills.com for additional information.
Sponsored by Finley-Sunset Hills Mortuary & Sunset Hills Memorial Park - Portland Memorial Park and Mortuary.
11 Entries
September 22, 2017
Karl Wustrack
September 19, 2017
Mary, dear Mary...I know you are raising a ruckus upstairs and causing so much laughter that we are hearing the heavens thunder. Having you at the table meant fun, merriment, laughter and love. Being at your home was like walking into a warm bath; you made everyone feel welcome, loved and appreciated. I loved playing bridge with you, eating chinese food with you and drinking with you! I am going to sleep tonight with a smile on my face because i was blessed to know you and count you as a friend. Your boys Brad and Willie exude your goodness and I will think of you with a smile and hold you in my heart all the rest of my days. And, get ready, because when you, Pat and I hit the heavens there is going to be a major roar! Bless you sweet Mary, I hold you in my heart.
I love our memories
Carrie Stevens
September 19, 2017
Classmate
Richard Small
I only saw Mary twice after graduating from Wilson (at two reunions) but I will always remember her. As a sophomore, I was overwhelmed socially, having moved from the McKenzie River (very rural) to Portland (very urban) in the eighth grade at Multnomah Grade School. For my only social entertainment, I would walk home after school and watch a daily local television dance program called High Time (Portland's version of American Bandstand) but the thought of actually dancing was so intimidating I couldn't imagine doing it.
Mary changed my life at a sock hop at Wilson. As usual, I was hugging the wall and she asked me to dance with her. I managed to blurt out that I couldn't dance but she took my arm and walked me onto the dance floor. It was a slow dance and to this day I remember the euphoria I felt when the music ended.
In one song I went from PANIC to the realization that I COULD DANCE! I had been watching the dancing on TV but my fear wasn't about the dancing, it was about asking a girl to dance with me. What if she said "No!" or worse, made fun of me. In her directness, Mary made me face my worst fear. I'm not sure if we ever danced again, but the change in me was so significant that two days later my mom asked if I was OK. I told her about the girl that made me dance.
I ran into Mary at a reunion and told her about her impact on my life. She couldn't remember it, but we did have a good visit. I was able to articulate how thankful I was for the kindness she had shown me.
I pondered my conversation with her after that reunion and a week later was prompted to write a speech I called 'Lighter to Lift'. It was about ten habits that people of all ages should adopt. For over twenty-five years I gave that speech in high school classrooms and assemblies around the Portland metropolitan area. The fourth habit was 'Face Your Fears', and to thousands of youngsters, I told the story of how Mary made me face mine and in doing so, she changed my life.
September 18, 2017
Classmate
Gary Newell
She was a very special friend and fun to be with. Peace be with your family.
September 18, 2017
Jason Rogers
I will always remember Mary fondly and her hosting our High School football team's pre-game dinner feed at her home. She was a wonderful person, Mother and friend. She will be missed.
September 18, 2017
Mary Ponce
My condolences to Mary's family, she and I worked together for many years, Mary always made me laugh, she was such a great soul.
September 17, 2017
Classmate
Terry McMahon
Mary and I met at Multnomah grade school, then went threw Wilson together. Every memory of Mary is a happy one. She was a friendly, happy girl with a great sense of humor and a wicked laugh. I regret that as adults we didn't see each other except at reunions. I am so glad that she had such a happy life with her wonderful family. My heart goes out to those left behind. May they take comfort in their happy memories of Mary.
September 17, 2017
Friend
Cherie Sanville
Mary was a very special person in my life! The very first dinner I cooked as a newly wed was for Mary and Gary who were still dating!! As it turned out your dad was a picky eater and I found out later that he didn't enjoy the first meal I ever cooked for friends!! We became a fast foursome and enjoyed many fun times together including having our babies close together and parenting together. I will miss her sooo much....I did not see her as much in later years as we moved to Bend. I do remember you all coming to Bend to visit and we got three feet of snow while you were there!! She was a person that I would not see for long periods of time but when we got together there was never a pause!! It was talk, talk, talk! She was such a special person and I will always miss her. We had nicknames for each other but that will remain forever a secret!!!
September 17, 2017
Friend
Cherie Sanville
September 16, 2017
Jo Mac Waldenburg
To Mary's dear family...how do I ever find the words that would describe our years of friendship? I met Mary in the 6th grade at Multnomah Grade School.From there, we went to the newly built WW High,where we remained friends throughout. When we both married and were raising our children, we came together to be on the Wilson Hi. reunion committee.We had many get-togethers at Carol's beach house...and Mare and I would walk for hours on Manzanita beach.I will never be on that same beach without remembering my dearest Mary. The phone calls from her...and when I asked how those darling grandchildren she had were..we would talk about Zach, Viggo, Paley and Sullie! We would laugh about their adventures and how she loved them dearly. Mary was so very happy with her entire family, that it showed in her face and heart.I will surely miss that wonderful person who graced my life then...now and forever.
September 16, 2017
My sincere condolences to each of Mary's family members. I've known Mary since high school and always enjoyed our time together. She had such a ready laugh and smile. The memory of Mary will bring each of you joy, I'm sure. I wish her God's peace.
Showing 1 - 11 of 11 results
Sep
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4:00 p.m.
First Baptist Church
909 SW 11th Ave, Portland, OR
Sep
22
Multnomah Athletic Club
1849 SW Salmon St, Portland, OR
Funeral services provided by:
Finley-Sunset Hills Mortuary & Sunset Hills Memorial Park - Portland6801 SW SUNSET HWY, Portland, OR 97225
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