Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
A private burial was held at Dufur Cemetery on Aug. 26 for Mary Deswert. Mary is survived by her husband, Deon M. Deswert; her children, Pamela Rosales of Bend, Oregon, Loraine Benas of Louisville, Colorado, JoAnn O’Dierno of Prineville, Oregon, and Deon Deswert Jr, of Friend, Oregon; 11 grandchildren; and 22 great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by mother Louisa DeSantis, father Luigi DeSantis, brother Edward DeSantis, and sister Caroline Deswert.
Mary and Deon were married Dec. 25, 1948. After her children graduated, she earned her teaching degree at Portland State College, followed by a Master’s degree in special education. She taught special education at Fruit Valley School in Vancouver, Washington. Mary and Deon then moved from Portland, Oregon, to Friend in 1976. At that time, she began teaching at Dufur School until she retired in 1990.
Mary loved to travel. She and Deon went to Mexico, and they took family members and spouses to Hawaii, parts of Europe, and Rovito, Italy, where her parents are from. Her nephew Bob Deswert and wife Robbyn took Mary on a motor home tour of the southern states.
Mary was a gifted artist. She loved oil painting, and she belonged to the Dufur China Painting Club. Other activities included the Dufur Garden Club, and participation in the Dufur Threshing Bee, of which she was an Honorary Grand Marshal. As a cancer survivor, she helped facilitate a cancer support group in The Dalles.
A celebration of life will be held Oct. 18 from 1-3 p.m. at 802 NE Fifth St., Dufur. Food and refreshments will be served. Please bring your favorite stories, memories, and photos to share. Please RSVP to one of the following email addresses with the number of people joining you: Pam Rosales, pam.river97@gmail.com; JoAnn O’dierno, joann.odierno@gmail.com, or Debra Deswert, deborahkay29@aol.com. Instead of flowers, there will be a donation box available for Dufur School in the name of Mary Deswert.
To plant a tree in memory of Mary Deswert as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
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