Mary Louise Monaghan Obituary
Mary Louise was a beloved wife, mom, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, daughter, daughter-in-law, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, Godmother, cousin, niece, friend and a Dame of the Holy Sepulchre.
Animated by her relationships, Mary Louise was up for adventure from the day she was born on February 22, 1948, in Sapporo, Japan. As a proud child of an Army Officer, Mary Louise was raised in a variety of locations but mainly in Clarksville, TN, where she eventually met her husband, Thomas Patrick, who was in the same high school class as her sister, Paula. Thomas Patrick was smitten and so was Mary Louise so they decided to wed (Mary Louise said he didn't really ask directly but suggested they apply for a marriage license). Mary Louise's mother wanted her to finish college first, so she said no. In a typical Mary Louise-fashion of not taking no for an answer, she eloped instead on December 23, 1966, telling her mom that she was going "Christmas shopping.". Sadly, they did not hire a photographer to capture the event but Mary Louise's story of driving through a snowstorm to Evansville, Indiana — and sewing her dress on the way — thrilled her children in the following years.
After marriage, Mary Louise and Patrick continued their studies in college. In 1967 Patrick went into the Army where he served in Vietnam and was touched by the faith and example of the Vietnamese people he met. This began a journey that culminated in his entrance into the Catholic Church in 1971 while he was in law school. Twenty-two days later, Mary Louise also became Catholic on the feast of St. Catherine of Siena, April 29, 1971. Fifteen years after eloping to the Trinity Methodist Church, they had their marriage blessed in the Catholic Church down the street - Holy Trinity Proto-Cathedral — and didn't capture that with pictures either! Always a seeker of truth and lover of beauty, the Catholic faith inflamed Mary Louise's innate attraction to a variety of traditions which she embraced with gusto from Three Kings Days processions throughout the house to St. Lucy's Day for her Scandinavian heritage and many, many feast days throughout the year, including, of course, St. Patrick's Day. Mary Louise's faith in God defined her being.
Mary Louise continued her grand adventure with her husband moving to Idaho, Hawaii, Idaho again, Kentucky, Wisconsin, and Kentucky again where they stayed. They also had long and wonderful stints in France and many travels around the world, including twice back to Vietnam. Mary Louise had excellent taste not just in her husband but in her home, making it a place to celebrate with friends and family over the years.
Mary Louise was a gifted lover of all things. She studied French (her college major), Mandarin, and Latin. She was also an avid punster. She loved: baking and cooking, competitive Gin Rummy, sewing, strong coffee, teaching, Bing Crosby, wall pockets (if you know, you know), writing and editing, music (it was not a party till you broke out "Sisters"), gardening and last but not least, the daily family Rosary. Mary Louise delighted in details and had a knack for inspiring others to share her quotidian joys.
While the past four years plus were very challenging with a catastrophic brain aneurysm, Mary Louise worked incredibly hard to heal and participate in her family's life, even occasionally correcting their grammar. She still remembered poetry, songs and her loved ones, showing this in small gestures and words of thanks. Throughout her life she encouraged her children to "offer it up" and we know she offered up this period of difficulty for many intentions and requests. She was supported lovingly by her husband and family according to each of their unique gifts as well as receiving devoted care by CNAs Stephanie Hamilton and Dominique Copeland, much to her family's deep gratitude.
Mary Louise is survived by her husband, Thomas Patrick, who went above and beyond in providing for her care and in showering her with love, affection, humor and many gifts (sometimes to her chagrin) throughout their years of wedded bliss.
Once asked what her favorite time was, she shared that it was when she had all of her children around her. They now surround her with prayers and are: John, wife Mariela; Joseph; Rosalie, husband Geoffrey; Maureen; Michael, wife Kathleen; James Brendan; Kathleen, husband Stephen; Margaret, husband Michael; Terence; Mary, husband Keith.
In addition to her children, her 25 grandchildren and great-grandchildren will miss her dearly: Patrick, Hallie, Alejandra, Daniela and Eduardo; Ezra, wife Asuka, and their children Sakura and Akari; John, Noah, William, Margaret, Mary Therese and Clara; Maximilian; Laurence, Clemens, Jude, Marie-Gervaise and Grandma's namesake, Mary Louise; Mavourneen; Alan, Rosie and George; and Theodora.
Her brother Mark, wife Maryvonne; sister-in-law Nancy; sisters Paula and Jody; brother-in-law Mike and her sisters-in-law Rosanna and Hallie, husband Charles; brother Hank; brothers Nick, wife Holly; J.B. wife Kelly, as well as her many much-loved nieces, nephews, cousins and siblings will also miss her.
Mary Louise was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Della Hemmrich; her brother, Geoff; her sister, Sara; brother in-law, Gene; and sister, Dena.
Visitation for Mary Louise will be on Friday, June 28, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at her home, 4320 New Hope Rd. New Haven, Kentucky. The funeral Mass will be Saturday, June 29, at 10:00 a.m. at her parish, St. Vincent de Paul, 104 Church St., New Hope, Kentucky. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Mattingly Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.
