Mary Veronica Marsolais

She was born December 14, 1936, in Ennis, County Claire, Ireland. She was a long-time resident of Eagle River, Alaska. Mary came to America on November 29, 1956, looking for the American dream in San Bernardino, California to live with her aunt and two cousins.

Mary met the love of life and got married on August 9, 1958, to Richard George Marsolais of San Bernardino, California. She was happily married for 54 years until Richard’s passing in June 2013.

She proudly became an American citizen on June 9, 1962.

Mary and Richard moved to Alaska in 1966, while Richard was working at Fort Richardson, Mary was bringing up her two daughters Nedra (Olson) Marsolais and Kathleen (Todd) Marsolais. Mary volunteered at Eagle River Elementary School in the library and in the playground. Mary retired from the Anchorage School District where she worked as a special education teacher assistant at Denali Elementary School.

Mary began to run in her forties, and she became a fixture every morning in Eagle River and in the Anchorage running community with her unique but potent running style. Richard always supported his wife and became well known in the race timing community. Mary ran hundreds of races in her career with her biggest joy racing in the Boston Marathon and placed 51st.

In 1993, Mary was diagnosed with breast cancer but never let it slow her down. She soon became a very visible runner at the breast cancer races around the country proudly donating and wearing her pink survivor hat to bring awareness and a cure for breast cancer.

Mary loved physical fitness, especially yoga, and was a frequent visitor to Captain Cook Athletic Club.

Mary is survived by her sisters Nuala O’Callaghan and Teresa Guilfoyle of Ennis, County Claire, Ireland and her brother Frank Guilfoyle of San Francisco, California, sister -in-law Ann Wickum and her husband Tom Wickum of Lebanon, Oregon and their children and grandchildren. In addition, she is survived by her two daughters Nedra (Marsolais) Olson, her husband Fred Olson of Idaho and Kathleen (Marsolais) Todd, her husband Greg Todd of Windsor, Colorado; her three grandchildren Michael Olson of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Benjamin Olson of Westminster, Colorado, and Ashley Todd of Fort Collins, Colorado; her two great grandchildren Jonah and Jax Olson.

Mary wishes to leave this world in peace and requested not to have a funeral. Please, if you wish, send a donation to St. Andrews Catholic Church or the Anchorage Running Club in Mary’s name.