Mary Caroline O'Rourke

Mary was born on January 12, 1945 in Cincinnati, Ohio to her parents, Francis and Helen Sellinger. She was the second of nine children, and she was blessed to have the companionship and support of her four brothers and four sisters. She attended Ursuline Academy before matriculating to and graduating from Georgetown University’s nursing school in 1966. While visiting Georgetown as a high school senior, she met the love of her life, Paul Terrence O’Rourke, whom she married in 1967. They were blessed to welcome two children to their family, Patrick and Megan.

Mary’s life reflected her kindness for others. She cared for infants as a neonatal intensive care nurse before she and Terry moved their family to Colorado in 1974. Over the following forty years, while raising and nurturing her family, she continued her service to others as the president of the Medical Auxiliary and its loan foundation, the volunteer coordinator for Penrose Hospital and the Namaste Alzheimer’s Center, and memberships on the boards of St. Mary’s High School, Goodwill of Colorado, and the Hospice of the Comforter. Wherever she went, she gave time to those who were ill, needed comfort and support, and were often unseen by others because “that’s what friends are for.”

She welcomed her daughter-in-law Robin and son-in law Andy to her family and celebrated her four grandchildren, Erin, Ryan, John, and Rachel. A stroke she suffered in 2013 took away many of Mary’s physical traits, but it never diminished her spirit. She beamed as John danced and Ryan played football. Mary watched and laughed as Erin and Rachel collected the signatures of Disney princesses and became beautiful young women.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Francis and Helen Sellinger, as well as her uncle, Father Joseph Sellinger, S.J. and her brother, Francis Sellinger, Jr. She is survived by her husband of fifty-seven loving years, Terry, her son and daughter, Patrick and Megan, their spouses, Robin and Andy, and her grandchildren, Erin, Ryan, John, and Rachel. She is also survived by her brothers, Joseph, John, and James, and her sisters, Helen, Dorothy, Patricia, and Elizabeth, as well as her sister-in-law, Mary Ann. Mary extended friendship to all, laughed easily, and loved greatly. We loved her and will cherish her forever.

A visitation for Mary will be held Friday, October 18, 2024 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Swan-Law Funeral Home, 501 North Cascade Avenue. A funeral mass will occur Saturday, October 19, 2024 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 2650 Parish View. A reception will follow at the Garden of the Gods Club, 3320 Mesa Road, after the funeral mass. Mary would welcome you joining her family and friends to celebrate her life.

Mary requested that no flowers be sent to her funeral, instead preferring anyone wishing to honor her memory send flowers to an Alzheimer’s patient to brighten their days. The Colorado Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association would also welcome any contributions on Mary’s behalf at https://www.alz.org/co