Mary Catherine Bader

Obituary MARY CATHERINE BYRNE BADER 1917 - 2010 Mary Catherine enjoyed a life of family, travel, and blarney. Her journey, beginning with her birth to Carl A. and Mary Ida ("Mayme") Byrne, in Minneapolis, MN, on June 2, 1917, was one of adventure, learning, and devotion to church and friends (including the canine variety). Her lifelong experience ended at the Franciscan Hospice House, on December 22, 2010. Having moved to Tacoma when she was two, Mary attended St. Patrick's Grade School and graduated from Stadium High School in 1935. She attended the (then) College of Puget Sound for a semester, before the financial pressures of the Depression forced her to find employment. Mary worked a number of years as an estimator and installer for Tacoma Window Shade. The love of learning, however, never left her. An active member of the Cardinal Club, she dated John W. Bader, who had briefly lived across the alley from her as a young child. Mary and John corresponded throughout World War II, and were married upon his return in 1945. When John became Manager of the popular Fort Lewis Employees Association (FLEA) Club, Mary Catherine served as hostess, bookkeeper, bartender, and occasional bingo caller. The club's slogan was, "Stop in and tarry with John and Mary". The growth of the family prompted a move to Lakewood where Mary and John became charter members of St. Frances Cabrini Parish. For a number of years, she served as the parish school's secretary. John, working for Foremost Dairies, took advantage of the offer to manage a facility at a NATO Base in Turkey. With this move, Mary Catherine seized the opportunity to travel to Russia, Kenya, Rome, and the Holy Land, and to engage in many aspects of the Turkish culture. Upon return to Tacoma, Mary Catherine became enthralled with computers and took every data processing course offered by Tacoma Community College. She also worked part-time at the St. Charles Borromeo Parish Office and volunteered at St. Leo's Food Connection; she actively participated in the Catholic Women's Club and found joy in her grandchildren and their achievements. Mary's life was enriched through her love of all things Irish - including trips to the Emerald Isle, enjoyment of Bailey's Irish Cream, and her annual hosting of a grand St. Patrick's Day celebration. She enjoyed gardening, chocolate, sewing, Mardi Gras, bread making, more chocolate, and sharing stories and laughter with friends. Mary is survived by her children, Paul (JoAnn), of Seattle; Anne (David) O'Neil, of Tacoma; John, Jr., of Middleborough, MA; and Kate (Sheila Meagher) Bader, of Seattle. She leaves four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband (1994) and younger brother, Charles A. Byrne of Tacoma. Funeral Mass will be celebrated Thursday, December 30th, at 12:10 pm, at St. Leo‘s Catholic Church. Vigil will be held on Wednesday, December 29th at 7:00 PM at Gaffney Funeral Home Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to St. Leo's Food Connection program or the John W. Bader Memorial Fund at Bellarmine Prep. The family also wishes to express their appreciation to Dr. Craig Romney, the Allenmore Hospital ICU team, Tacoma Merrill Gardens staff, and the Franciscan Hospice House for their care, professionalism, and concern in enhancing the quality of her life.