Mary Jeanne Banzer

Mary Jeanne was born in Seattle, Washington, on May 13, 1943, to Edward Joseph McCormick and Elizabeth Jean (Pressentin) McCormick, while her father was deployed in the Pacific during World War II. She was the oldest of three girls.

Mary Jeanne attended Blessed Sacrament Grade School in Seattle, Washington; then Immaculata High School in Washington, D.C. She received her nursing degree from St. Francis Nursing School in Trenton, New Jersey and began her nursing career that lasted over 40 years.

She was married to Alfred Banzer on April 20, 1968, after they met at Virginia Beach. Together they raised three girls in Durham, North Carolina, and Bedford, Texas. Mary Jeanne was fiercely dedicated to her girls and she donated her time and energy to the communities she lived in, from serving as PTA President to organizing Easter bunny brunches with Durham Woman’s Club to volunteering countless hours (and shopping!) at a variety of thrift stores, most famously Berry Good Buys in Fort Worth and the Assistance League of Austin.

Mary Jeanne loved people and had many dear life-long friends while always making new ones. She was a friend to all. She was famous for her annual cookie exchanges and bringing people together - and was always the life of the party. She was fun, up for anything and obsessive about remembering birthdays and making people feel special with unexpected gifts and cards. Her friends remember her as one of a kind and say she was ‘authentic, unashamedly in love with life and her family, and loyal to her friends forever.’ She taught us how to love big and to give that love freely to the people around us.

Mary Jeanne was predeceased by her father, Edward J. McCormick and her mother, E. Jean McCormick.

She is survived by her husband of 54 years Alfred Banzer; her three daughters, Connie (Ken) Coffey, Susan (Jon) Haufe, and Karen Bramlett; five grandchildren, Colin and Connor Coffey, Sam and Ben Haufe, and Elizabeth Jean Bramlett; two siblings, Kathleen (Joe) Bezdek and Margaret (Dave) McLoughlin; 4 nieces and nephews, Gary Brennan, Joe (Paige) Bezdek, Jeannie Bezdek, and John (Rachel) Bezdek; and 6 great nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be given to Alzheimer’s Association (by clicking the link below).

The family of Mary Jeanne wishes to thank the staff at Ellery Arbor Memory Care and Custom Care Hospice for their amazing care of our mom.

Visitation will be at Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home and Memorial Park in Colleyville on Tuesday, August 2nd from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. Funeral Mass will be offered at 11:00 am on Wednesday, August 3rd at Good Shepherd Catholic Community followed by a Bethany Reception that all are invited to attend. Committal Rite and Interment afterwards at Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home and Memorial Park.

Online condolence messages can be submitted at http://www.dignitymemorial.com

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.bluebonnethills.com for the Banzer family.