Obituary: Cunneely, Mary Elizabeth
Age 56
We are brokenhearted, but His will be done.
Mary was born on October 13, 1958 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, shortly after her father was assigned to Headquarters, Air Defense Command.
She was the third child to USAF Captain Eugene Cunneely and his wife Alice Marie.
Mary was what in those days they called a Tomboy, always involved with her older brothers Eugene and James in their favorite sports.
Being in a military family, Mary moved with her family frequently taking up residences in North Bay, Canada, Dover, Delaware, Spokane and Tacoma, Washington and Anchorage, Alaska.
When in Spokane, she attended Marycliff High School for a year, but eventually graduated in 1976 from Bartlett-Begich High School in Anchorage.
After working a few years in Alaska, Mary attended Gonzaga University, but took her bachelor’s degree in Management from Eastern Washington University.
She was a competitive softball player and swimmer.
Mary also participated in the EWU arts and dance programs.
She was also an excellent skier.
Upon graduation from college, Mary became a Flight Attendant for Western Airlines, (‘the only way to fly’).
For several years she was stationed in Salt Lake City, eventually she was reassigned to Seattle when Delta Airlines took over Western.
After working as a Flight Attendant for over 17 years, and accruing thousands and thousands of flight hours, Mary felt the need to move on to a new career.
Over the years, Mary had traveled to over 50 countries including Asia, Europe, Australia and the Middle East.
In her travels she saw most of the world’s most important sights and wonders that few of us will ever have the opportunity to behold.
Mary loved flying and she had many exciting experiences on her multitude of flights that included performing life saving emergency procedures on passengers in stress.
Beginning at Spokane Community College, Mary commenced training that would lead her to a degree in nursing.
She achieved that in 2007 after completing two years at Walla Walla Community College at Clarkston.
For seven years Mary worked in the Critical Birth Section at prestigious Swedish Hospital, Seattle.
In this section, thousands of babies are born and saved that are below normal weight standards or are suffering from dire life threatening conditions.
In most situations these little children’s lives would end in miscarriage or early death.
Mary’s record and duty evaluations in this area always resulted in her receiving high personal performance ratings.
Her greatest joy came from saving the little ones.
Mary enjoyed Broadway musicals; she must have seen Les Miserables 20 times.
She loved roast beef, a glass of wine, swimming, (30 to 40 plus laps per session), bacon and eggs with hollandaise sauce, and a chocolate shake.
She had a million dollar smile and a quick and ready sense of humor.
And she loved animals.
She always had a dog that she catered to and gave the very best of care and affection.
Mary never married though she came close several times.
She loved her nine nephews and nieces and was forever generous to them.
Whenever one of her colleagues needed to take off a shift for personal reasons, Mary would fill in for her.
Mary’s religious faith was very strong.
She had a dedicated prayer life and never missed Sunday Mass.
She lived a good life marked by her generosity to those in need.
Mary is survived by her father and mother, Eugene and Alice Cunneely in Spokane; her three brothers: Eugene Jr. and his wife Kathy, brother James and wife Gail, Bellevue, WA, brother Michael and wife Amie, in Spokane; sister Kathleen, Spokane; also nephews and nieces: Eugene Cunneely III, USCG, Washington, DC, Kanani Cunneely, Spokane, WA, Grace and Michael Cunneely, Spokane, WA, Connor, Casey and Brendan McClary, Spokane, WA, and Collin and Rachel Cunneely, Bellevue, WA.
A Vigil will be held for Mary at Hennessey Funeral Home, 2203 N. Division St. Spokane, WA at 6:00 PM, Thursday, July 16, 2015.
The Celebration of Life Mass will be held at Mary Queen Parish, 3423 E. Carlisle Avenue, Spokane, WA Friday, July 17, 2015 at 11:00 AM.
In place of flowers, Mary would prefer that you send a donation to help the poor, through St. Vincent De Paul, at Mary Queen Parish.
To view Mary’s online memorial, please visit www.hennesseyfuneralhomes.com.