On the afternoon of July 12, 2023, surrounded by family and friends, Mary Helena Guerechit-Ulrich, age 66, passed away. She was born on October 11, 1956, as the fifth child, to Joseph Martin Guerechit and Mary Lavawn Carter.
Mary grew up in Miles City MT in a large and loving family. She was known in her family for pushing the boundaries. She once missed curfew at her house and was met by police officers. The officers told her to go home, but, with a classic Mary response, she put her foot on the curb and said I am home.
Miles City is where she would meet the love of her life, Tom Ulrich. She would often share the story of how they met, and, as the story goes, she won a date with him in a basketball game. The two were married on October 19, 1974, at the local Catholic Church. They traveled around the state before finally moving to Helena.
Helena is where Mary would find her lifelong career, working at Spring Meadow Resources, with individuals with disabilities. Mary was dedicated to her clients. She loved to teach and was full of love and compassion, she drew off of this energy to assist clients to live successful and fulfilling lives.
Mary was so many things to so many people and she touched the lives of all who knew her. She will be dearly missed.
Mary is survived by her husband Thomas Eugene Ulrich; her daughter Tammra Jean Ulrich; grandchildren Catherine Rae and Freyja Ulrich; her siblings Ron (Bobby) Guerechit, Mo Guerechit, Anita Guerechit, Larry (Joy) Guerechit, Teresa (Phil) Parks, Cliff (Trish) Guerechit, Patty (Scott) Farley; and her favorite dog Babbs. She is preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Mary Lavawn; Brother Mike Guerechit; her beloved daughter Billy Jo Ulrich; and good friend Rebekah Ann White-Roman.
Services will be held at Spring Meadow Resources at 2850 Broadwater Ave, Helena MT on Saturday July 22, 2023 at 11am with a luncheon to follow. Please come out to celebrate Mary, and the wonderful life that she lived.
Service Schedule
Celebration of Her Life
11:00 a.m.
Saturday July 22, 2023
Spring Meadow Resources
2850 Broadwater Ave.
Helena, Montana 59601
Luncheon
Following the service
Saturday July 22, 2023
Spring Meadow Resources
2850 Broadwater Ave.
Helena, Montana 59601
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Dorothy Virag says
I’m so sorry Tom ,TJ and family for the loss of Mary she was one of a kind and will be greatly missed treasure the memories. God bless and help you thru this time.
Harold owens says
Hey Tom and family I am very sorry to hear about your wife and mother she was a great person and friend to all of her staff and clients at spring meadow group home rest in peace my friend I will be praying for your family lol mr owens
Dee Bickle says
I’m so sorry for your loss !
Heaven gained a angel!
Jessica D’Arcy says
Mary,
I’ve tossed and turned trying to find words to summarize why Mary was taken so sudden and soon. She was the toughest woman I’ve ever had the privilege to know and have in my life…and I know so many others can say the same. Mary lived to serve others. Every day she walked this earth, she helped someone. I know I don’t stand alone with this statement, but I truly thought she’d outlive us all.
When life was hard, who did we all want to call…Mary. It never mattered how much time would lapse in between the visits or phone calls, she’d always pick up and start right where we’d left off. It always felt like nothing had changed. Mary loved like no one else on this earth. She helped nurture, grow, and push people to become unstoppable.
Mary always told me to attempt to find the positives in some of life’s most difficult times. She reminded me that I don’t have to face the darkness alone. She texted every day to check in, to ensure all was okay. She found things to do when all I wanted was to isolate after losing my gram. She taught me the true value of unconditional love.
I started working for Spring Meadow Resources at the young age of 18. I had never taken care of people before. It was my very first night shift, and one of the clients came out of their room. I asked them what they needed. This client was nonverbal and I wasn’t aware. They walked to the fridge, opened it, and started chugging a gallon of milk straight out of the container. As timid as I was, I asked the client to please put the milk back and head back to their room. With that, the client threw the gallon of milk at me and stormed back down the hall to their room. I stood there, shaking like a leaf, and covered in milk. Later that night, another client awoke in a full blown seizure. I sat with the client while dialing the on-call phone. Mary answered of course. As I would soon find out, this lady never took a day off. I explained that I wasn’t quite sure if I was cut out for this type of work. Mary simply said, well then I expect you to come in Monday and hand in your two week notice. I hung up the phone, frazzled, but determined to prove her wrong. Thus began our mentorship/friendship.
Mary loved to tell that story to any new employee that came along SMR’s way, and even repeated that story several times to employees that had worked there for years. Mary challenged me in so many ways. She pushed me to be a better worker, but more importantly an even better human.
As the years progressed, Mary taught me so many things. How to cook (for an army), clean, rearrange/decorate, bake, etch glass, pottery, but more importantly how to let my walls down and love fierce. She taught me to never give up and when things felt impossible, to push even harder. She said many times, these are the moments that are going to prepare you for life’s hardest lessons and to persevere. She was not wrong.
Mary taught me so many valuable assets when dealing with people and caring for them in their home. She taught me how to approach clients in distress and de-escalate in crisis situations. She taught me calmness in the chaos. She believed in me. She planted the bulb, sat back, and watched the flower bloom.
I am so grateful for the opportunities, the tough love and support, the growth, and finding those positives no matter how powerful the storm presents. Find that rainbow, see the colors, watch things grow and bloom.
I went on to become a nurse. I took those morals and values with me to the bedside of patients. She often would cross my mind. What would Mary do or say right now? How would she handle this situation? Often times, those reflections made for very positive outcomes. Mary had a damn tough exterior (we all know that look), but man was her heart enormous. I’m not sure what this world is going to look like going forward, but one thing I do know is that Mary would want us to find something positive in every day. No matter how big or how small. Mary will continue to live on through me and so many others.
The world has grown a lot more dim without her presence here on earth, but as Mary reassured me when my gram passed…we will see each other again. Just look for the rainbow.
Tom, TJ, C-Rae, and Freyja,
Please let me know what more I can do. This is the time you must lean on those around you. I’m so honored to be your basement dweller. You guys all carry these traits. You love fiercely and serve so many of those you love and care about. Now it’s time to let others serve you. I love you guys and I’m here for you. 💙
Bryan Spece says
Mary was one of the real ones who knew how important the work we do is she will always be in my memories prayers to her family and to the clients who’s life she touched with her kindness
Richard Thompson says
You taught me so much and helped make me who I am today. Thank you
Sue Jackson says
Mary Ulrich was an institution in DD services, strong willed, practical, and energetic. She was devoted to her family, to the many people she served and those who served them. I’m sorry that I have another commitment and will not be able to participate in the celebration. I’ll be thinking of her and all of the people who will miss her so deeply.
Sue Jackson
Sherri Norton says
Mary you blessed so many people you will be greatly missed
The Lord only calls the best of us home