Mary Dorak Sorensen

The family moved to Lakewood, Colorado, in the 1920s, where her father hoped to recover from tuberculosis. When her mother was widowed at the age of 35 with four children, Mary was sent to live with foster families in Denver. She graduated from East High School with her friend Isabel, who also turned 100 in 2019. She married Earl Sorensen in 1939, and they had three sons, Mel, Fred, and Greg, all of whom survive her. She is also survived by her brother Jordan, daughter-in-law Rita, and many nieces and nephews.

In the early 1950s Earl and Mary moved to Edgewater, Colorado, and became actively involved in the community and local politics. Mary described herself as a household executive on one of her son’s school forms — she considered herself much more than a mere housewife. She devoted herself to her sons’ school activities, whether sports, PTA, Cub Scouts, band, or plays. And if she disagreed with something happening in Congress, she let her representatives and senators know. She was also a volunteer extraordinaire — delivering Meals on Wheels, visiting friends in nursing homes, delivering the local Edgewater paper, baking chocolate chip cookies for the Edgewater Police Department, or hand-making a variety of gifts for friends and neighbors. On February 11, 1990, the Colorado State Senate commended her for “her civic activities, her work with the sick and old, and families struck with grief and sorrow.” For many years she worked as the Edgewater Municipal Court Clerk and was recognized for her efforts in 2005. She loved to play bridge and pinochle and to tell good jokes until dementia slowly robbed her of her sharp wit. “Growing old isn’t for sissies,” she would say. But she never lost her caring nature.

In accordance with her wishes, there will be a memorial service at a later time. She was preceded in death by her husband; her sisters Matilda (Tyl) Gilmore, Evelyn Reisinger, Irene, and Elsie; and her brother John. Donations may be made to the Colorado Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, 455 N. Sherman St, Suite 500, Denver, CO 80203 or to a charity of your choice.