Mary Elizabeth LaHue

Mary Elizabeth LaHue, 89 WILDOMAR -- Mary Elizabeth LaHue died peacefully in her home on Tuesday, September 14, 2010. She was 89 years old and lived a full and rich life. Her first love and joy was her husband and her children and she showed this through her daily interactions with them and her unconditional love. Her passion in life was music. It was a common practice to hear beautiful, classical music playing in the background in her home. Mary Liz was an accomplished pianist and earned a coveted entrance to Curtis Institute of Music when she was in her early twenties. She also attended Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Westminster Choir College located in Princeton, New Jersey. Her career as a pianist was cut short when she suffered a stroke while attending classes at Curtis. This life-changing event caused Mary to redirect her career to the world of art, which she grew to love. She began taking art lessons beginning with oils and then over time moved on to study watercolor and other mixed media. Mary showed, by her attitude and her choices in life, that when one door closes another one opens. She was an inspiration to all who knew her. Mary was an active member of the Fallbrook Art Association and won numerous awards for her paintings. She believed in the importance of art and education, and combined these when she created the Mary LaHue Art Assist Program. This program places working artists in area elementary schools to teach art. Mary believed that art is a critical component to a child's education and she wanted to do something to help expose students to forms of artistic work that they may otherwise not have been exposed to. The Fallbrook Art Association has kept the program active in area schools. Mary is survived by her four loving children and their spouses. She is also survived by her nine wonderful grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Her husband, Roy C. LaHue Jr. preceded her in death. Services will be at the St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church in Temecula on 44651 Avenida de Missiones, on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010, at 2 p.m., with visiting afterward at St. Thomas in the side room off of the main parish. Remembrances may be given to St. Thomas Episcopal Church. The LaHue family thanks all who are able to attend. Sign the Guestbook online obits.nctimes.com