We will send an invite after you submit!
In memory of
Mrs. Mary Louise Duensing
Photo
Mary Louise's obituary
She graduated from Dundee High School in 1946 and met her first husband, Robert (Bob) Howes, while working as an administrator for the Oldsmobile-Buick dealership in Elgin, Illinois. They had two daughters, Sherri and Kristi. Both Bob and Kristi preceded her in death all too soon. Bob at the age of 50 and Kristi at three-years old. Sherri (Don) Meagher resides in Tucson, Arizona; as do Mary Lou’s three grandchildren, Brian, Rachel Klompf, and Trent, and three great-grandchildren.
Mary Lou married Donald Duensing, from Algonquin, Illinois, in 1991. They originally met in high school and were friends for many years. She was always a caring stepmother to his five children, Ann, Tom (Sue), Karen Balzer, David, and Jean (Bob) Durbin, ten grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.
The two participated on the Dundee HS class reunion committee for many years, loved entertaining, enjoyed playing bridge or pinochle with friends, volunteering at church, and traveling all over the country. Mary Lou assisted Don in his insurance office for several years before they retired to Green Valley in the mid-1990’s to be closer to Sherri and Don in Tucson.
Mary Lou was known for so many things, but most of all for her patience, sweet nature, quick wit, sense of humor, infectious laugh, self-sacrificing ways, a ferocious reading habit, as well as charitable efforts in underserved local Native American Indian communities, via Desert Hills Lutheran Church, by knitting hats for newborns. She always made time for family and could often be found playing games or reading with them. She loved the Arizona mountains and continually commented on their magnificence and the sense of peace she felt while living in Green Valley and surrounded by them.
Mary Lou and Don moved to Silver Springs Assisted Living Center in January 2016 where they quickly acclimated to the new community, immediately making friends with the residents and staff. She was known as the “happiest little ole lady” at Silver Springs because people always saw her smiling.
Mary Lou is survived by Don, Sherri, her step-children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and her younger brother Paul (Carol) Schif from Elgin, Illinois. She was preceded in death by her parents, Eugene and Bertha (Becker) Schif, her first husband Robert, daughter Kristi, and brothers John and Richard.
She will always be remembered with joy and great love by those who were blessed to have her in their life. While we miss her terribly, her faith was strong and she is with Our Creator, pain-free and laughing with her family members who greeted her in heaven.
A memorial service was held at 10a.m. on Saturday, November 16, 2019 in Green Valley AZ. She has requested memorials in lieu of flowers to be sent to Desert Hills Lutheran Church Foundation, 2150 S. Camino del Sol, Green Valley, AZ 85622 or Wesleyan Methodist Church, 1070 South Street, Elgin, IL 60123.
Send to someone
Share this obituary with others
Want to stay updated?
Get notified when new photos, stories and other important updates are shared.
Share this memorial website
How you can help
Share with others
Created with love by
Jean Durbin and
Thirza Duensing.
