Mary was born at Methodist Hospital in Dallas. She grew up in Oak Cliff and attended Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic School. Upon graduation she worked for the Dallas Morning News, and later, for the owner of the Majestic Theater.
Larry first met Mary while serving Mass at his sister’s wedding. They began dating a few years later and were married November 18, 1961 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Dallas. They were blessed with 62 years of married life, three children, ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She was a devoted wife and mother. Mary and Larry moved north to Farmers Branch in 1963 where they became active members of Mary Immaculate Catholic Church.
In 1975, they joined the Christian Community of God’s Delight, a charismatic community in Dallas, and remained active members for almost 50 years. Mary served the Community in many ways, leading bible studies, cooking for summer camp, working with youth in various capacities and as a long-time member of the choir.
When her children left home, Mary returned to the work force. Her last role was as the assistant to the Abbot at the Cistercian Abbey in Dallas, where she worked for 15 years. In this role she made friends with many monks and even enticed four of her grandsons attending Cistercian Preparatory School to visit the Abbey during lunch break for some of her famous chocolate milk prepared just for them and their closest friends. She became a beloved member of the Cistercian community and was extremely grateful for her time there.
Mary lived life to the fullest and brought joy to everyone she met. She loved to read, regularly checking out a dozen books or more from the Farmers Branch library at a time. She passed her love of reading on to her children and grandchildren. She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren and as the family grew, preferred time together over any presents at Christmas and on her birthday. Mary was an amazing cook, a love picked up from her grandmother at a young age. Her fried chicken was legendary...the annual Lenzen Family “Chicken Fry” involving over 100 pieces of chicken was quite the logistical undertaking, managed meticulously by Mary and that tradition will continue in her memory. For Mary, there was always room for one more, most often priests, at the Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner table. Food was one of her many love languages.
Mary and Larry loved to travel. While they took numerous Caribbean cruises, crossed the pond for a tour of England, Wales and Scotland and embarked on many road trips all over Texas, their favorite place to vacation was Colorado. Mary and Larry loved to hike the mountains, reaching some of the highest peaks with their children and grandchildren. Mary was adventurous and willing to try almost anything, running her first half marathon after the age of 60 and even sky diving with Larry and their grandson, Matt for Larry’s 70th birthday.
Mary, or Mimi as she was known to her grandchildren, will be greatly missed and affectionately remembered by her family.
She is survived by her husband Larry Lenzen, Jr., her sons Larry Lenzen III (Brenda), Greg Lenzen (Sheri), and her daughter Bridget Johnson (Michael). She is also survived by 10 grandchildren: Lance Lenzen, Matt Lenzen (Bailey), Jake Lenzen, Ben Lenzen, Maggie Lenzen, Ellie Lenzen, Garrett Lenzen, Kate Lenzen (Jonathan Kanter), Cole Lenzen, Sara Hearn and 2 great grandchildren: Owen Lenzen and Emmet Lenzen.
The visitation and Rosary will be held Monday, December 18th, 2023, at Rhoton Funeral Home, 1511 S. Interstate 35E, Carrollton, Texas, 75006. Visitation will begin at 5:30 PM with the Rosary at 6:30 PM, followed by remembrances from family and friends.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, December 19th at 10:00 AM at Mary Immaculate Catholic Church, 2800 Valwood Parkway, Farmers Branch, Texas, 75234 followed by a reception at the Knights of Columbus Hall.
In lieu of flowers, please support Our Lady of Dallas Cistercian Abbey. https://abbey.cistercian.org/
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