Mary Fessenden

Mary Leon Fessenden has passed on at her home, surrounded by loved ones, in the early morning hours of Friday, April 7, 2017, at the age of 82. This is somehow a startling and disconcerting turn of events, though we, as loved ones, know our shock and dismay are ridiculous for obvious reasons….like a lifelong smoking habit, old age, a primary diet of cookies and pie, and the heartbreak of losing one of your children. Your beloved youngest child. But still, we were unprepared for our mother’s loss and are completely bereft. Mary was born in Janesville, Wisconsin and lived in Madison, Wisconsin; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Denver, Colorado; Lamar, Colorado; Vernal, Utah; Denver, Colorado; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and, finally, back in Denver, Colorado – mostly in that order and lugging three reluctant children along with her, until each of us aged out of the system. She worked in a variety of fields including nursing, child care, real estate, administrative assistant and police dispatcher. More important than her career, she was mother and nurturer to all who entered her domain. She was protective, kind, caring, funny, scary smart and hard-working. She was interested in everything – especially you! She was our mother, though at times, she was, in the vernacular “a mutha.” (We can say that, don’t you try it.) Tough, fleet of foot, occasionally showing an unpredictable flash of temper that clearly worked to mold our characters properly. She was such an awesome mom that most of her grandchildren see her as their second mom, since she was recruited to live with and help out both of her daughters with their young children for years at a time. We are all the better for her immense dedication to nurturing and loving these wonderful souls, her grandchildren. As her body became less able to accommodate her great energy, vitality and wit, she mastered the computer, first dabbling with email, then following all of her family and friends lives on Facebook, sometimes a little too closely… She spent the last couple of years addicted to Trivia Crack. And, recently graduated to trolling strangers she disagreed with in the comments sections of news articles. She had an especially rich field of targets following this last election. She actually jokingly pointed the blame for her demise on the hopeless state of our current political state, specifically the president, in her final hours. Mary had a fierce independent streak, a devotion to the uplifting of others, a clear-sighted and uncommonly strong sense of what was fair and just. She fought like a lion for those she loved, and sometimes, for total strangers. She was fiery! She was fun! It was a wild ride and we are so grateful to have been a part of it. She is and will be forevermore sorely missed. Mary leaves behind sisters Virginia (Ginny) James, Clare Brynildson, Christine Glass and brothers John Fessenden and Dan Fessenden (Minneapolis and Pueblo, CO); a daughter, Rosemary Motisi, and a son, John Motisi (both in Denver area). Mary was predeceased by her daughter, Amy Jo Bartholomew (Minneapolis). She was the devoted grandmother to Kathryn (Klingensmith) Steffenson; Jonathan Klingensmith; Tony Motisi; Talia (Motisi) Ellis (Colorado); Theo Allen Bartholomew, Stavon Williams and Jacob Harlin (Minneapolis). She was a marvelous and playful great-grandmother to Taniah & Theo Bartholomew (Memphis, TN), Jacob Harlin, Jr. and Catalina (Williams) Yepez (Minneapolis, MN) and Sloane Steffenson (Denver, CO). Mary likewise loved and adored all of her nieces, nephews, and the great nieces, nephews. She was widowed from Tony J. Motisi in 1960. Her former husband (1983), Charles Bartholomew, shares in our grief. Mary Fessenden enriched the lives of all who were lucky enough to know her. A special thank you to the professional caregivers who shared her life with us these past few years – all of us are so grateful.