Mary Jeanne Tourek

Mary Jeanne Tourek, age 81, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on August 17, 2013. She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Robert James Tourek. Mary was born on December 19, 1931 in East Grand Rapids, Michigan to Robert and Helga Jones. She attended Northwestern University where she was a proud member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority. At Northwestern, Mary met her husband Robert. Robert and Mary married on September 12, 1952. Mary grew up with her sister Margaret and her greatest wish was to have a large family. She achieved her goal. Mary is survived by her nine children and 16 grandchildren: Bob Tourek, his wife Lisa and their sons R.T. and Chris; Katherine Tourek, her husband Stephen French and their daughters Lauren and Kendall; Mark Tourek, his wife Judy Jankowski and their children Gabe and Lexie; Kevin Tourek, his wife Kelly and their sons Benjamin, Sawyer and Aiden; Tim Tourek; David Tourek; Lisa Mack, her husband Tom and their children Johnathan, Courtney and Kaitlin; Erin Tourek; and, Megan Muirhead, her husband Chris and their children Samuel, Jack, Jordan and Elizabeth. Mary will be fondly remembered as a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She and Robert raised their nine children in East Grand Rapids where they always welcomed the neighborhood children to join the family for Sunday night dinners, board games, home run derby, capture the flag, bonfires and other Tourek events. Mary was an accomplished pianist, an avid reader and a devoted Michael Jordan fan. Mary and Robert retired to Albuquerque in 1994 to be closer to family. Education was of utmost importance to Mary. One of her proudest accomplishments was that all her children graduated from college. Therefore, in lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to any school of your choice or to any of the schools currently attended by Mary's grandchildren: Georgia O'Keeffe Elementary PTA, 11705 San Victorio Ave, NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111; Albuquerque Academy PTA, 6400 Wyoming Blvd, NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109; Sandia High School PTA, 7801 Candelaria Rd, NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110; or Coronado High School PTA, 1001 Coronado Center Rd., Henderson, NV 89052. Rosary will be recited Thursday, August 22, 2013, 5:00 p.m., at John XXIIII Catholic Community, 4831 Tramway Ridge Dr. NE. Mass will be celebrated Friday, August 23, 2013, 11:00 a.m., also at John XXIII Catholic Community. Interment will take place at Santa Fe National Cemetery. FRENCH - Wyoming 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE (505) 823-9400