Mary Catherine McNamara

April 11, 1925 October 1, 2023

Chicago, Illinois Portland, Oregon

Mary Catherine McNamara, fondly referred to as “Mary-Mac” was born on April 11, 1925, in Chicago, Illinois to Catherine “Kitty” Doyle and Thomas Letz, Sr.

Sadly, due to complications with her pregnancy, Mary’s mother lost her sight and Mary became her mother’s eyes guiding her through the streets of Chicago and its metro train system, “the El”, when she was only three. As this was during the time of the “great depression,” they endured many hardships, and so at the tender age of four, Mary and her parents moved from Chicago to her uncle’s farm near the town of Campbellsport, Wisconsin. Soon after, they were blessed with their second child, Mary’s baby brother, Thomas Bernard, whom she affectionately referred to as “Bunny”, and whom she helped to care for due to her mother’s blindness.

While World War II had started in December of 1942, Mary graduated from high school in May of 1943, and moved to the nearby town of West Bend where she f0und a job at the Amity Leather Factory.

Mary married Elnor “Jigger” Hintz in 1948, and on April 16, 1949 they became the proud parents of their precious baby boy, Daniel (“Danny”) Joseph Hintz. In a tragic twist of fate, Mary’s husband was killed in an industrial accident at his work in September of that same year, and Mary was left to raise their then 5-month-old son on her own.

For the next two years Mary worked and raised her son alone until she met and married, Howard Boettcher, in 1951. In October of 1952, when Mary was about 6 months pregnant with their daughter, SueAnne, the family was in a horrific motor vehicle crash, and as a result SueAnne was born severely premature suffering oxygen deficiency, which resulted in a lifelong affliction of cerebral spasticity. Mary spent the next three years raising her son and physically challenged daughter, who required multiple surgeries and therapy. Then in February 1956, Mary had her third child, a daughter she named Jeannine Marie.

Mary and Howard divorced in 1969, then in 1971, Mary and her daughter, Jeannine, moved from West Bend to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Both Danny and SueAnne were attending college during this time; Danny at the University of Wisconsin in LaCrosse, and SueAnne at Cardinal Stritch University in Fox Point, Wisconsin. When Jeannine graduated from high school in June of 1974, she moved out to Portland, Oregon, where her sister SueAnne had taken up residence following her graduation from college. After a year or two, Mary decided to join her daughters in Oregon, where she worked in the healthcare field as a Certified Medical Transcriptionist.

Mary was a devout Catholic and her faith was always at the core of every aspect of her life. She was a faithful member of Holy Cross Catholic Church for more than 20 years. From her early days and throughout her life, Mary lived in service of others. She was known for her wonderful cooking and her pies were divine. She was often known to bring home-cooked meals to the nuns and priests of the parish, as well as inviting them to meals in her home with her family. Mary had a way of “adopting” anyone who crossed her path. Her kindness, love, and acceptance of everyone she knew made her beloved by all.

Mary enjoyed a variety of creative past-times over her lifetime including the creation of some unique and stylish hats adorned with pheasant feathers, which she wore proudly complementing her lovely red hair. In more recent years, she frequently gifted family and friends with her handmade crocheted afghans and beautifully hand-beaded necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Mary also loved to write letters, emails and poetry, as well as a book recounting the adventures of her life.

Mary is preceded in death by her mother, father, brother, and son-in-law, Joe Fred Watson. She is survived by her children Daniel J. Hintz (Mary Hintz) of Friendswood, Texas; SueAnne Boettcher, and Jeannine Watson of Portland, Oregon; six grandchildren, Audrey Erickson (Milwaukee, WI), Jonathan and Jennifer Sasse, and Jade Sasse-Watson (Portland, OR), Christopher (Casianna) Hintz, and Erin (Doug) Hale (Austin, TX); and five great grandchildren, LJ and Javon Mithmeuangneua (Portland, OR), Savannah and Jake Hale, and Oliver Hintz (Austin, TX), along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

~~~

“Let all that you do be done in love.”

~ 1 Corinthians 16:14 (ESV)