Marie Johannetta Kirsch DeBakey, beloved wife, sister, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and devout Christian, peacefully entered eternal rest on Sunday, the 25th of July 2021 in Houston after a long and full-filling life. She was 98 years of age.
She was born on the 16th of June 1923, in Charles City, Iowa, to Louis and Eva Kirsch. Along with her five siblings, she was raised in a loving, close and faithful family. She became a U.S. Navy nurse stationed in Great Lakes, Illinois during WWII. While working at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in California, she met the love of her life and married Raymond E. DeBakey. Together they raised four children, living in California, Iowa, and finally Texas. She owned and managed the Westbriar Apartments along with and after the death of Raymond. The most cherished times of all were the many gatherings they had with family and friends wherever they lived.
Marie loved being involved with people and was a member of a variety of groups. She participated in Navy Nurse Reunions, Catholic Daughters of America, St. Michael Sociable Seniors, AARP, and The Ladies of Houston Charity Club. Her generous heart brought comfort and joy to all who knew her.
Marie enjoyed a long and blessed life with her family and friends. An avid baseball fan, she enjoyed watching the Astros whenever she could. One of Marie’s joys was spending time with those she loved.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Raymond DeBakey; her brother, Robert Kirsch; and her sisters, Helen McGee and Lois Havlik. She is survived by her sisters, Arlis Ford and Agnes McKone; daughter, Patricia DeBakey Luhn and her husband Mark; sons, Gary DeBakey, MD and his wife Melanie, Michael DeBakey and Daniel DeBakey; grandchildren, Dustin DeBakey and Ashley, Cassandra DeBakey, Christina Blazek and her husband Steven, and Emma Uhlman, Travis Uhlman and Madison Uhlman; six great-grandchildren; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Marie’s family would like to extend their profound gratitude to her caregivers - Rose Thompson, Ernestine Barnes, Shree Taylor, and Arnold and Mary Jane Lim for their blessed care and devotion to mother in her last few years of life.
Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening on Thursday, the 29th of July, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston, where a Recitation of the Holy Rosary is to commence at seven o’clock.
All are also invited once again and share remembrances of Marie during a reception to be held from half-past eleven o’clock in the morning until one o’clock in the afternoon, Friday, the 30th of July, in the grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons.
The Mass of Christian Burial is to be offered at two o’clock in the afternoon on Friday, the 30th of July, at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 1801 Sage Road in Houston, where Fr. Wayne Wilkerson, Pastor, is to serve as celebrant. Guest are invited to view the livestream of the service at https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://youtu.be/Ju_oUVlzSOg__;!!M2D_dUfSiN4E!ZlI-2fRS8ZIcgFY_eA-pA3stPYdjsO7VJdDR65kbh7dtSCr7UpJ7r0P28iebnHC1KZwZpRHD6REY$ or by clicking "Join Livestream" icon below.
The Rite of Committal will follow, via escorted cortège, at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery in Houston.
In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions in memory of Marie may be directed to a charity of one’s choice.
“Wherever a beautiful soul has been, there is a trail of beautiful memories.”
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