Mary Belle (Marley) Pouliot, 90, passed from the loving arms of her family into the blessed arms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on December 7, 2012, following a courageous battle with cancer. Mary was born April 22, 1922, in Bozeman, MT., the oldest of four girls born to Tom and Nellie Marley. She graduated from Rosary High School in 1940 in Bozeman, and married her childhood sweetheart, the love of her life, George Pouliot. Since elementary school, George was fascinated with this adorable red-headed spitfire! They loved celebrating their wedding anniversary on the eve of the nation’s New Year. This year they would have celebrated 72 years of wedded bliss.
Throughout the years, George and Mary were blessed with eleven children. In 1952, the family moved to Helena. Mary was a homemaker for several years, but she also worked at various establishments, cocktail waitressing to augment the expense of raising a large family. The last ten years of her career she worked for Dr. Jim Coffey as his optometric assistant before she retired. In 1975, she started volunteering at Fort Harrison. She was a life member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW Post 1116, and for over 60 years was a member of the Cathedral of Saint Helena. She loved playing pinochle, was an avid reader, and loved to work the daily crossword puzzle. She was a social butterfly with an outgoing personality, and enjoyed life to the fullest. She bowled for many years, and for awhile, was on a league with several of her daughters. She and her kids were very close; she bragged that they were “her best friends”.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her two sisters, Pat McKenna and JoAnn Powell, and by her eldest son, Dan. She is survived by her dearest love, George, and by her ten children; Mary Marlene, Tom (Shirley), Jerry (Mary), Jeanne (Bob), Joanie (Gordon), Linda , Pat , Pam (Dan), Elizabeth, Coni (Chris), her daughter-in-law Rosie, and her youngest sister, Liz Swingle (Wes) of Bozeman. She has 24 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren, 2 great great grandsons(twins), and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mom, God has blessed us by giving you to us as our mentor and supporter. Your constant guidance through faith and love is continually felt in our daily lives. We love you so much and will miss you every day.
We especially want to thank Dr. Tom Weiner for his devoted attention and to the amazing St. Peters medical staff on the oncology ward, for their tender and loving care.
Visitation will be from noon to 5:00 p.m. Monday, December 10, 2012 at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Avenue. The family invites you to join them for the praying of the Rosary 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at the Cathedral of St. Helena. Mass of Christian Burial will be noon Tuesday at the Cathedral of St. Helena. Rite of Committal will follow at Resurrection Cemetery. Immediately following the burial, a reception celebrating Mary’s life will be held in the social center of Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Mary’s name may be made to Cathedral of St. Helena or to an organization of the donor’s choice. Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer the family condolences or share a memory of Mary.
Service Schedule
Visitation
Noon to 5:00 p.m.
Monday December 10, 2012
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana 59602
Mass of Christian Burial
Noon
Tuesday December 11, 2012
Cathedral of Saint Helena
Helena, Montana
Reception
Immediately following the burial
Tuesday December 11, 2012
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana 59602
Service Schedule
Visitation
Noon to 5:00 p.m.
Monday December 10, 2012
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana 59602
Mass of Christian Burial
Noon
Tuesday December 11, 2012
Cathedral of Saint Helena
Helena, Montana
Reception
Immediately following the burial
Tuesday December 11, 2012
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana 59602
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Mrs. Carol E. Bonner says
Linda & family,
I will light a candle for your Mom and keep you in my thoughts in the coming days. I remember you talking of their anniversary on New Year’s Eve as well as the family reunions, weddings & trips ! I only met your Mom once out at the lake & remembe how comfortable she made me feel as your guest. Please know that I am sending big hugs your way ~ I am glad Dr. Weiner was with you through this time.
Love ‘ya,
Carol
Kathy Rowsey says
I am so sorry about your loss. What a wonderful legacy she leaves in each of you. God Bless you all as you walk through this time of grief. I will be especially praying for your dad/grandfather George. He truly lost half of himself. Love you all! See you soon.
flossie says
George & Family
I always enjoyed the “after bowling” with Mom and the girls. A wonderful force and a wonderful human being is now sent on another journey. My heart is with you all.
Flossie
Ronna & Tom Henderson says
We are so sorry to hear “Momma Mary” has left this earth, but overjoyed she has been welcomed into the arms of Jesus. No more pain. She was an amazing Mother, friend, and neighbor. She always welcomed extra kids without question. All of you have such a special place in my heart. We will be thinking of you during this most difficult time but hope the special memories you have will guide you through with grace and a few smiles. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Hugging you with our hearts and Love to you all. Ronna & Tom
Randy & Glory, Firehouse Lanes says
Our prayers and thoughts go to all of you. Through the stories we’ve been told by Joanie, we have come to know your family with deep respect and admiration. Thanks Joanie for sharing this lovely lady with us.
Randy & Glory
Diane Macaraeg-Langenfus says
My first memories of Mary go as far back to when was when I was 5 years old. I was in Kindergarden with Jean and Joan and we played in the neighborhood after school. I grew up in the house on Breckenridge with the whole Pouliot family and most of the time just thought of myself as part of the family. Mary was a second Mom to me as she was with many of the children in and out of that house in those days. The house was always noisy and full of activity and everyone had their chores and share of duties to a household that large. It was my adult years tho that I learned to love Mary the most, her excitement to see me when too much time had passed, her never ending interest in my Children and Grandchildren, and then there was always the “Motherly advise”. Mary was truly an extraordinary Woman, Wife, Mother, Carreer Woman and Teacher. She believed in the hard knocks school of “just get over it” even though she was filled with compassion for anyone with a struggle. She has had an impact on many lives through her years here in Helena and she will be greatly missed. I can say my life was fuller knowing and loving Mary, George and all their Children. God Bless you all at this time…….
Diane and Mike
Larry Petersen says
Having spent my teen years living across the street from the Pouliot family, I gained a great deal of respect for George and Mary as wondeful parents. Tom, Dan and Linda became life long friends. May God bless the family during this celebration of Mary’s life.
Allen Stenhjem says
Our thoughts and prayers are with this great family .God Bless.
Diana Kuhl-Howard says
Dear Linda ~
I am so so very sorry for the loss of your Loving Mother. There are no words to express how truly sad I am for you, your Father, and your other siblings. I would have never guessed that the last time I would ever see your Mom would have been the day we brought her those flowers that she loved so much. I remember you kept telling Bid to keep them over on the table next to your Dad so she too could look at her loving husband while gazing at the flowers. Even after 72 years they were truly still in love…you could just tell. Too me that is just priceless. I feel so bad for your Dad as half of him is gone. She has been welcomed in the arms of Jesus our Lord and Savior and has joined all our past loved ones that have gone before us in heaven. I will never forget her…she was an amazingly strong and beautiful lady. Memories of her will forever be with all of us and will never be forgotten. I love your family. My thoughts, prayers and love are forever with you all.
Bev and Bob Moore says
Our condolences to all of Mary’s family. She was a strong and loving person to all that met her..always a smile , a good word to all. Her presence always made you feel as part of the family. She will be missed all around this community . God be with you all.
Jake Holmes and Helen Nimz says
Jake says: So sorry to hear about Mary. She was my favorite Mother. Whenever we’d get together I would have such a great time with her kidding around. She’d always ask me “are the cops looking for you Jake”. And I would always say “No, Mary”. My prayers and thoughts go out to Tom and the Family. Just so, so, sorry. Jake
Helen says: I met Mary first time I came with Jake to Montana and we visited with George and Mary and she invited me up to her bedroom so we could have a female chat. I will never forget her. She was such a lovely person.
Bill Darcy says
I never actually met Mary, but went to school with Dan, Tom and Jerry. They were great kids, so I can only surmise that Mary must have been a great mother. My condolences
Irene Reynolds says
As a classmate of Jeanne and Joanie, I remember seeing Mrs. Pouliot at school activities and in church. She was always so pretty and always had a smile. She was a great mother and a hard working woman. God bless all her family at this trying time.
My condolences,
Irene
Pete Hamper says
I feel bad I happened to be out of state when Mary passed on. Having spent many a moment with the Pouliot family I can only imagine the celebration of her life. I don’t think I have ever met a person with a more positive attitude in my life. After the death of my son Jon I mentioned to a priest that I pray for Jon everyday. The priest said for me to pray to him as he is now in heaven. There is no question Mary is in heaven, and will now more than ever look after her family here on earth.
God Bless,
Pete Hamper
Ray and Lorraine Long says
Dear Pat,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family today.
Tonna Strasko says
Linda and family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
God bless you all.
Tonna and Joe Strasko
Ron Iverson says
Tom and Family– I am sorry I missed visiting with your Mother when I came to the hospital, but got to visit with two of you during the trying moments. I so remember Mary from the time she worked in the Optometrist’s office next to mine. She was clearly a fun and caring person, and I think that was passed on to each of you, in how she and George raised you. No higher honor than to represent the values instilled in each of you by your parents. You will miss her and remember her, as will your children and grandchildren, but you will also be comforted in knowing that she has gone on ahead of you to Heaven, after so many months of suffering here on earth. She will be waiting. Ron