Mary Therese Bresee

Mary Therese Bresee died December 7, 2009 in Gresham, Oregon at the age of 99 years. A service to celebrate her life will be held at Bateman Carroll Funeral Home, Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 11:00 am. Private inurnment will be at Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery.Mary was born February 13, 1910 in San Francisco, California. In her early years, she lived and attended school with her sister, Margaret at Queen of Angels Convent and Orphanage in Seattle. Her Aunt Margaret Fahey brought her to Portland for her high school years and she lived at and graduated from Mt. Angel Academy in the town of Mt. Angel.In her early years, Mary lived and attended school with her sister Margaret at Queen of Angels Convent and Orphanage in Seattle. Her Aunt Margaret Fahy brought her to Portland for her high school years and she lived at and graduated from Mt. Angel Academy in the town of Mt. Angel.Mary was musical and learned to play the piano in her school years. Following school she traveled with her Aunt Margaret, working at a Portland hotel owned by her aunt and husband, Joe Fahy, who Uncle Joe played for the Portland Beavers Baseball Club.Mary married Harold Oliver “Bud” Bresee and they lived their early years in Klamath Falls where daughters Suzanne (Sue), Carole, and son Robert were born. Later moving to Portland, son Michael was born. Mary sang with the Gregory Heights Mother’s Club during her children’s grade school years, and later joined Bruce Kelly’s Oregon Singers.In the 1950’s Mary went to work in accounts payable at Lipman Wolfe, then one of Portland’s “best” department stores and spent many happy years with the “Lipman’s Family”, eventually retiring when the store was sold.In 1976 Mary and her husband built a home in Gresham on Kingswood Heights, becoming part of the Gresham community and Charter Members of the Gresham Historical Society. Bud died in January 6, 1984, and a variety of family members came to share Grandma’s house over the following years. Mary sang with the Trioleers well up into her 90’s and enjoyed the Mt. Hood Pops Orchestra and later Columbia Symphony Orchestra and never wanted to miss a single Gresham event, whether it was Mt. Hood Jazz Festival or the Spirit of Christmas. Although nearly 100, she was there for the grand opening of the Center for Arts Plaza summer 2009. Her favorite pastime was bunco which she played every month from the 1970’s until her death.Mary is survived by her children, Sue (Al Richard) O’Halloran, Carole (Hal) Moats, Robert (Ruth Anne) Bresee and Michael (Jan Ferguson) Bresee. Her best of times included her grandchildren and she was there with nurture and empathy for each. Grandchildren are Robert, Michelle (Shelly), Anne Marie, Karen; Patrick, Kerry Ann, Blair and Darren; Rand, John deceased, and Brian; Stephanie, Mary Kate, Nathan and Jenny. Her great grandchildren now number 22.Contributions may be made in her memory to, The Gresham Historical Society.Please visit www.mem.com to sign her guestbook.