Mary Colfelt

Mary Colfelt

January 19, 1934 – December 5, 2010

      Singing, teaching, performing, and being a friend, grandmother and mother – Mary did them all with love, acceptance, kindness and grace. She died peacefully early Sunday afternoon with family by her side. Fittingly, though unplanned, a small boy choir led by a mom playing the piano was singing the morning she died, just down the hall from where she was being cared for.

      A long-time resident of Bainbridge Island, Mary loved her family and loved her music. She was most at home at the keys of her grand piano in her living room on McDonald Avenue with people gathered around to sing. A graduate of the University of Oregon, she spent her life expressing herself through singing and teaching others to do the same. Over the years Mary led church choirs, children’s choirs, senior choirs, classes for uncertain singers, gave individual voice lessons and was involved with Bainbridge Performing Arts and other arts communities around the Seattle area. She sang in many musicals, operas and choruses, including the Seattle Opera and the Seattle Chorale, gave recitals, and was also a long-time member of the C.G. Jung Society, Seattle. After her children moved away, she ran Mary’s Farmhouse Bed and Breakfast at her farmhouse. She always had a place for people in need.

      When talking about her uncertain singers’ class, Mary said, “I think the biggest ingredient you have to have for singing is courage.” Mary showed tremendous courage herself over her final years, finally succumbing after a long illness. She spent her last years living with and in the care of her son Kurt and daughter Colleen and their families. She is survived by her children Kurt (Nacole), Brenda (Al), Colleen (Kurt), and Todd (Amy), Robert Colfelt, her sister Dorothy and brother Bob, and her 12 grandchildren. A very spiritual woman who had a positive influence on all who knew her, she will be deeply missed.

      A memorial service will be held at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 7706 25th Ave. NW, Seattle at 1:00 on Saturday afternoon, December 11th. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent in memory of Mary to Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission, P. O. Box 202, Seattle, WA 98111-0202. 206.722.4663.

      Special thanks to her dear friend Joyce Veterane, and to Carlos, Curt, and others for their loving care of Mary during her final years, and to those who always had her in their thoughts and prayers.

      We love you, Mom.

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