Mary Jean Bedard

Mary Jean Bedard passed away on April 9, 2026, just a few weeks after her 83rd birthday. Born on March 13, 1943, the 13th, and youngest, child in her family, Mary Jean never saw her birthdate or birth order as bad omens, despite the connotations the number 13 often brings to mind—quite the contrary. It was her lucky number. And she lived her birthdays to the fullest, often wanting to celebrate them for the entire week or month. Not to be extravagant, just to feel the love of her family and friends and to reflect that back to all of them.

Mary Jean was born and raised in Loup City, Nebraska prior to her family’s relocation to Littleton, Colorado, where she eventually married, raised a family, went back to school for her Bachelor’s degree and then a Master’s in Social Science, and started her own counseling business, which her son, Kevin, and his partner, Theresa, still run today.

Mary Jean lived her life with enthusiasm and passion. She was game for almost anything, unless she wasn’t, and then she told you so. When her three sons were growing up, she went camping and skiing, rode motorcycles, took her sons fishing, cooked with them, and attended countless athletic events. She may not have loved all of these activities, but she loved her family and always showed up and made them feel cared for and supported.

That capacity for empathy, caring, and support knew no bounds and is what eventually led to Mary Jean’s career in counseling. Starting out as a secretary at Saint Jude’s Catholic Church in Lakewood, she saw the power that love and faith—regardless of denomination—could bring to people who were struggling. Having completed a Bachelor’s degree at Loretto Heights College in Denver and a Master’s degree at the University of Colorado, Mary Jean opened Serenity Counseling in 1985, and spent decades working with clients to overcome addiction, relationship and professional issues, and early trauma that was still impacting their lives.

Mary Jean cared deeply about her clients and often brought those concerns home with her. But she also knew how to unwind—in nature, with the many dogs she had over the years, and with her family. She is survived by her three sons, Kevin, Brian, and Steven, their partners, Theresa, Jill, and Katie, three granddaughters, Meiling, Kelcey, and Baylee, their partners, Charles, Alex, and Alex, five great-grandchildren, Grayson, Briella, Lincoln, Daniel, and Chase, her sister Barbara, and more than 50 nieces and nephews.

Mary Jean has had an indelible impact on so many people—family, friends, and the clients she cared so much about. We wish her all the love and peace that she shared with all of us these many years.