Dwyer, Mary Alice

Our beloved mother, Mary Alice (Parker) Dwyer, passed away in Hospice of Spokane South on October 10, 2017, at the age of 93. Mary Alice was born January 19, 1924 in Detroit, the youngest of John and Theresa Parker’s four children, all of whom predeceased her. She graduated from St Mary’s of Redford Catholic High School and later attended Marymount Catholic College, both in Detroit. She was a talented concert pianist, serving as principal pianist with the Ford Motor Co. symphony and chorus. After WWII, her sweetheart, our dad, Thomas Z. Dwyer of Farmington, MI, was honorably discharged from the Army, returned home and he and Mom were married in Detroit in 1946. The first of five daughters was born in 1948, quickly followed by three more daughters. Dad went to work for General Foods (now Kraft Foods) in 1953 and in 1956, to escape the nasty Michigan winters, took a transfer to Phoenix, AZ, where their only son and another daughter were born. Mom was very active in the choir and Sodality at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Phoenix. After Dad retired from General Foods in 1983 with 30 years of service, they traveled all over the U.S., as well as visiting Ireland, England, Canada and went on several cruises. In 2007, they followed their youngest daughter to Spokane, looking for cooler weather and a slower pace after 50+ years in Phoenix. Three other children later joined them in Spokane. After almost 68 years of marriage, Dad passed away in 2014, just shy of his 92nd birthday. Mom leaves behind her six children, Lauraine Dwyer of Spokane, Martha Fleming (Kenneth), of Spokane, Paula Hart (Michael) of Branson, MO, Cindy Wren-Jenkins (David), of Flagstaff, AZ, Tom Jr. (Laurie) of Spokane and Amie Whittle (Michael) of Spokane, as well as eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. We are so very thankful for the wonderful care Mom received at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and at Hospice of Spokane South. She will rest in peace with Dad at the Washington State Veterans’ Cemetery near Medical Lake. The funeral Mass will be celebrated October 26, 2017, 10a.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Parish, 3327 S. Perry St. , Spokane. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Hospice of Spokane, Veterans of Foreign Wars or National Right to Life.