Mary Elizabeth Stegmueller

Mary Elizabeth Stegmueller, loved daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin, friend and warrior passed away on Monday, March 4, 2024 at home in Northglenn, CO in the arms of her mom and dad. Mary was born in Lafayette, CO on April 25, 2016 to Kristin and Bobby Stegmueller. She attended Frassati Catholic Academy and loved school- where she was in 2nd grade.

In Mary’s too short 7 years on this Earth she lived life and experienced more than most do in a full lifetime. Before she was diagnosed with DIPG in October of 2020 she took tap and ballet classes, gymnastics, and horseback riding lessons. She loved to go on adventures with her family whether it was visiting the local zoo or going on longer road trips to visit with family in the Midwest.

Mary never let her diagnosis define her and fought every moment and lived fully the good times as well as the bad. In true Mary form she played her last soccer game less than a week after a brain biopsy! She was a Daisy and Brownie Girl Scout and she loved selling cookies. Mary tried to find the fun in all things- whether it was playing tricks on or being snarky to her doctors, giving gifts to others to cheer them up, running over nurses in the halls with her toy car or so many other ways- her laugh and smile was infectious. During her battle she had the ability to create amazing memories with family too- going to Minnesota to spend a whole weekend in a Mall, Disney World several times, and all the adventures she would go on in California in between doctors and inpatient stays- some of her favorites being a day trip to Monterey Bay, beach trips and Ghirardelli Square.

Mary’s faith was very important to her even at such young an age. She received the Anointing of the Sick hundreds of times during her 40 month battle as well as received her Confirmation and First Communion shortly after being diagnosed. She allowed others to learn and grow their faith by sharing her journey and allowing all of the 2nd grade to witness one of her Anointings.

Mary loved her family and friends. She always had stories from school about what she did that day and was always asking about extended family and people she hadn’t even seen in months. She would adopt people into the family giving them honors of Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents to just expand her circle of love. As she would tell everyone her and Robbie were “really close” – she even voluntarily shared her room and bed with him the last few years because they wanted to be together. She loved her fellow warriors too- especially her “blood brothers” in the fight.

Mary loved deeply not only her friends and family but also animals. She hoped to one day become a veterinarian and in received an honorary degree from Colorado State University which she was very proud of and often asked if she could go into her “office”- Community Pet Hospital where she was made an honorary member of the staff. Cats were her favorite but she loved all animals- especially her own Cat Freyja who she took her job of taking care of seriously and her beloved stuffed “BunBun” (or “HopHop” depending on the day) who she picked out at the age of 6 months and had by her side every moment till her last breath.

We could list everything Mary went through in her more than 40 months of fighting DIPG but that isn’t her whole story and everyone who knew her knew the fight she was in. She was proud of how strong she was and how hard she fought and only used the “cancer kid” card when it got her out of trouble or doing something she didn’t want to. She loved to celebrate her victories big and small, medical and non-medical.

Mary is survived by her parents Kristin and Bobby Stegmueller, little brother Robbie Stegmueller, Grandpa Jeff Hanson, Grandma Pattye Stegmueller, several aunts, uncles and cousins as well as honorary family members. Mary entered heaven with an army of DIPG kids waiting for her as well as her Granpa Karl Stegmueller, Grandma Aldene Hanson, and angel siblings that were never born- Creek and June.

A Celebration of Life will take place at Frassati Catholic Academy, 3951 Cottonwood Lakes Blvd Thornton, Sunday, March 17th from 2-4pm followed by Rosary. Please wear one of Mary’s favorite colors: Pink, Purple, Blue, Silver, Yellow or Rainbow.

A Funeral Service will take place at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 11385 Grant Dr. Northglenn, Monday, March 18th at 11am with reception to follow.

Memorial contributions to support research and other families battling DIPG can be sent to Tough2gether at www.tinyurl.com/Maryfund or to Mary’s Magical Moment at www.marysmagicalmoment.org in honor of Mary.

Please visit olingerhighland.com to share memories and condolences with the family.