Mary Marple

1938 - 2017

Marple, Mary Alice nee Kennedy



December 25, 1938 â€" September 3, 2017

Mary Alice Marple nee Kennedy, 78, of Cedar Falls, IA, passed away on Sunday, September 3, 2017 due to complications from Parkinson's disease.

Mary was born on Christmas Day, 1938, in Minneapolis, MN to William and Alice Gleason Kennedy. She was raised in Minneapolis, the third out of four children and was very close to her siblings, Bill, Eileen, and Michael. Many topics were discussed at their dinner table, including faith, politics, and current events, inspiring a lifelong love of debate and learning.

Mary graduated from St. Anthony's High School in 1956. She pursued higher education and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1959. After graduation, she worked at Harvard University in Boston, where she met Art Lloyd Marple. They were united in matrimony in 1963.

With Art's career in the Air Force, the two lived in various states and countries. They made Albuquerque, NM their home in the 1970's. Mary had a long career in banking, notably working for Charter Bank for many years. Mary and Art had one child, son, Matthew Marple. During her lifetime, Mary travelled both domestically and internationally, including to countries such as Ireland, Morocco, Tunisia, Spain, Russia, Turkey, and Norway. She moved to Cedar Falls, IA to be closer to family in 2016.

Mary loved the Catholic faith, gardening (specifically roses, where growing them in the desert displayed her true green thumb,) traveling, jewelry, craft projects, photography, reading, current events, dogs, and her family. Mary will be remembered for her generosity, her intelligence, quick wit, her understanding of the world, her faith, and love of family and friends.

She is survived by her son, Matthew (Annie) Marple of Janesville, IA; sister, Eileen Kennedy of Rio Vista, CA; sister-in-law, Sue Pringle of Tulsa, OK; as well as many other family members and friends.

A Visitation will be held Friday, September 8, 2017 at 6:00 p.m., with the Rosary recited at 7:00 p.m. at FRENCH - University in Albuquerque, NM. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place Saturday, September 9, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, 4020 Lomas Blvd NE. Interment will be at Mount Calvary Cemetery, following Mass. An informal post-funeral reception will take place at New Aldaya Lifescapes in Cedar Falls, IA on Sunday, September 17, 2017 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

If one chooses, in lieu of flowers or gifts, a small donation to New Aldaya Lifescapes or Monastery of Christ in the Desert, in Abiquiu, NM, would be greatly appreciated.

The family wishes to thank the residents and staff of New Aldaya, especially Memory Care House, for the care and support during Mary's final weeks. Please visit our online guestbook for Mary at

www.FrenchFunerals.com