Mary Verrue

Mary was born on January 10, 1930, to Mary and Thomas Hanna, in Lurgan Northern Ireland. From a young age, she had an outgoing personality, with an interest in people and a love of travel and art. During World War II, as a young teenager, Mary would play the piano and she and her girlfriends would sing popular songs to entertain American soldiers in Lurgan. Later she earned a degree in Music. At the age of 24, Mary traveled to the United States, staying first in New York, and eventually traveling to California to stay with a friend from her hometown, Ms. Gertie Fetzer. During that time, Mary worked at State Farm Insurance, where she met her roommate, and life-long friend, Gloria Evon. Mary’s original plan had been to return to Ireland after a year. However, her plans changed after she met the love of her life, a young Air Force officer, Henry (Hank) Verrue.

After dating for a year, Mary and Hank were married in 1955. Hank was a talented artist with a degree in French. Shortly after their first daughter Katherine was born, Hank was stationed in Labrador Canada for a year and Mary returned to Ireland with her young daughter to live with her family during that time. After returning to California, their second daughter, Karen, was born. Mary enjoyed the opportunities to travel that military life provided. She and Hank and their two girls lived in Roswell, New Mexico for a few years, followed by a year in France just outside of Paris, and a couple of years in England. Mary and Hank loved Paris, enjoying the French culture, cuisine, museums, and most of all, the people. During this time they traveled extensively throughout Europe and Mary was able to visit her family in Ireland frequently.

Upon returning to the United States, Mary and Hank lived near Boston. After being a stay-at-home mom for many years, Mary returned to the workforce and began working at a bank. In 1970, they moved to Carmichael, California close to their longtime friends Gloria and Lou Evon. Here they would live for the rest of their lives. Gloria encouraged Mary to apply for a job with Golden Gate University, where she worked as a Coordinator and eventually as a Director for 20 years. Mary loved working with the faculty and students of Golden Gate University and formed many lasting friendships, including those with her close friends, Michaela Gray and Gail Raymond. After retiring from the Air Force, Hank began teaching French at Roseville High School. In 1991, Mary left Golden Gate University to travel with Hank back to Paris, where Hank taught at a French high school for a year through a teaching exchange program. During that year they lived in a small apartment in the Opera District and hosted many of their friends.

Sadly, difficult years were to follow. Mary was predeceased by her daughter, Karen in 1993; her husband Hank in 1995, followed by the deaths of her brother and sister, William Hanna and Betty Hanna, in 1997. Then in June of 1997 her first grandchild, Brendon Slater was born and the following year, her second grandson, Brian was born. Her grandsons gave Mary a renewed purpose in life. In 2003, her third grandchild, Breanna was born, and Mary embraced the role of Nana, caring and taxiing her grandchildren everywhere, helping to raise them and spoiling them rotten. She always had Hershey’s chocolate nuggets at her house (aka “Nana cookies”), a name Brendon gave them. The name stuck and Mary was never without Nana cookies.

Mary loved spending time with her daughter, Kathy, son-in-law Scott and of course, her grandchildren. She was a good friend, listener and counselor, and her friends and family always sought her wise advice. She had a gift for storytelling and entertaining. She especially loved telling stories about growing up in Ireland and her early years in the United States. She also loved reading and getting together with friends. And one thing that always stood out was her strong fashion sense, she had a classy style.

Mary is survived by her daughter Katherine Verrue-Slater and son-in-law Scott Slater of Rocklin, and her three grandchildren. A celebration of life is planned for March 26, 2022, at 1 pm at the Whitney Ranch Clubhouse 851 Old Ranch House Road in Rocklin CA. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Disabled Veterans National Foundation or memorial of your choice are appreciated.