Mary Catherine Mihaltian

Charlotte – Mary Catherine Mihaltian, 68, of Charlotte, passed away peacefully with her husband by her side on July 1, 2016 after a wonderful life and a three-year struggle with ovarian, liver, lung and diaphragm cancer.

Mary was born on August 15, 1947, during the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in Baltimore, MD, daughter of the late Hugh and Frances (Kearney) Brookhart.

Mary was a graduate of Mercy Catholic High School in Baltimore, MD and West Chester University, where she majored in liberal arts and computer science. Mary served as a psychology technician and operations research analyst for the United States Federal Government for over 16 years. Upon her retirement from government service she was awarded the Cold War Metal for her service to the nation during the Cold War. Upon leaving SSA she founded Southeast Consulting, Inc., a Charlotte-based financial technology and publishing corporation, where she served as chief executive until her death.

Mary was a long-time parishioner of St. Gabriel Catholic Church. She loved to cook and was an exceptional hostess, expert crossword puzzle solver, wordsmith and avid reader. She published several books, including A Guide to the Internet, The Bank Asset/Liability Management Pocket Guide and her Famous Southern Dishes Cookbook. She was often heard telling her loved ones to “make someone smile today!”

Mary cherished her family, her many friends, her precious cats (even the strays) and her backyard birds. She was a magnificent mother to her daughters, Jennifer Johnson and Jessica Haynes as well as her step children, Thomas Philip and Kimberley Ann. She adored her beloved grandsons, Aidan Marshall and Benjamin West, as well as her granddaughter, Lauren Marie, of whom she was very proud.

In addition to her children and grandchildren, Mary is survived by her husband of 48 years, Peter Mihaltian; brothers, Gerald Brookhart, Sr., and Ronald Brookhart; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Hugh F. Brookhart Sr. and Frances Brookhart as well as her brother, Hugh F. Brookhart, Jr.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Robert Higgins, Dr. David Iannitti, and the staff at Levine Cancer Institute, especially the angelic 4th floor infusion nurses, who shepherded Mary through her many months of intensive and critical care.

Visitation was held at Harry and Bryant, 500 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC, from 5:00-8:30 pm on Wednesday, July 6. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 11:00 am on Thursday, July 7 at St. Gabriel Catholic Church, 3016 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC, with Pastor Fr. Frank O’Rourke, Celebrant.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Teal Butterfly Challenge at www.tealbutterflychallenge.com, an ovarian cancer awareness organization about which Mary was very passionate. Mary worked diligently to assure that women know and understand the symptoms of ovarian cancer (bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, urinary frequency, fatigue, back pain…) one butterfly at a time.

A Symbol of Hope

“As a symbol of hope a butterfly

lights next to us like a sunbeam

And for a brief moment in time it’s

beauty and glory are part of our world

But then it flies again

And while we wish it could have stayed

we are happy to have seen it…. “

Author unknown

“If I can stop one heart from breaking,

I shall not have lived in vain;

If I can ease one life the aching,

Or cool one pain,

Or help one fainting robin

Unto his nest again,

I shall not have lived in vain.”

Emily Dickinson

* * * * * * * * * *

Charlotte – Mary Catherine Mihaltian, 68, of Charlotte, passed away peacefully with her husband by her side on July 1, 2016 after a wonderful life and a three-year struggle with ovarian, liver, lung and diaphragm cancer.

Mary was born on August 15, 1947, during the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in Baltimore, MD, daughter of the late Hugh and Frances (Kearney) Brookhart.

Mary was a graduate of Mercy Catholic High School in Baltimore, MD and West Chester University, where she majored in liberal arts and computer science. Mary served as a psychology technician and operations research analyst for the United States Federal Government for over 16 years. Upon her retirement from government service she was awarded the Cold War Metal for her service to the nation during the Cold War. Upon leaving SSA she founded Southeast Consulting, Inc., a Charlotte-based financial technology and publishing corporation, where she served as chief executive until her death.

Mary was a long-time parishioner of St. Gabriel Catholic Church. She loved to cook and was an exceptional hostess, expert crossword puzzle solver, wordsmith and avid reader. She published several books, including A Guide to the Internet, The Bank Asset/Liability Management Pocket Guide and her Famous Southern Dishes Cookbook. She was often heard telling her loved ones to “make someone smile today!”

Mary cherished her family, her many friends, her precious cats (even the strays) and her backyard birds. She was a magnificent mother to her daughters, Jennifer Johnson and Jessica Haynes as well as her step children, Thomas Philip and Kimberley Ann. She adored her beloved grandsons, Aidan Marshall and Benjamin West, as well as her granddaughter, Lauren Marie, of whom she was very proud.

In addition to her children and grandchildren, Mary is survived by her husband of 48 years, Peter Mihaltian; brothers, Gerald Brookhart, Sr., and Ronald Brookhart; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Hugh F. Brookhart Sr. and Frances Brookhart as well as her brother, Hugh F. Brookhart, Jr.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Robert Higgins, Dr. David Iannitti, and the staff at Levine Cancer Institute, especially the angelic 4th floor infusion nurses, who shepherded Mary through her many months of intensive and critical care.

Visitation will be held at Harry and Bryant, 500 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC, from 5:00-8:30 pm on Wednesday, July 6. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am on Thursday, July 7 at St. Gabriel Catholic Church, 3016 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC, with Pastor Fr. Frank O’Rourke, Celebrant.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Teal Butterfly Challenge at www.tealbutterflychallenge.com, an ovarian cancer awareness organization about which Mary was very passionate. Mary worked diligently to assure that women know and understand the symptoms of ovarian cancer (bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, urinary frequency, fatigue, back pain…) one butterfly at a time.