Marion Louise Loney Obituary

Marion Louise (Mary Lou) Loney passed away on Wednesday April 13th, 2022 in Oregon City, Oregon. Mary Lou was born on October 17, 1936, in Chicago, Illinois to Joseph and Genevieve Wenc (Puda). Her younger years in Chicago were spent with her parents and extended Polish family until she moved to Oregon. She was the oldest of three children; she had one sister, Patricia Hughes of Monterey and one brother, Richard Wenc of Gresham.

Mary Lou attended Jennings Lodge Elementary School, graduating in 1955 from Milwaukie High School. That same year, she married her “prince” Richard (Dick) Loney from Portland. He entered the Coast Guard shortly after their marriage and was later discharged in 1957. They were married for 62 years with Dick’s passing on Feb. 27, 2016. They had three daughters together; Deborah Pappas-Kemp (Randy) of Hillsboro, Sharon Bonaduce (Ralph) of Oregon City, and Pamela Loney who passed away in 1983.

Mary Lou worked at Portland Federal Savings and later full time as a Dental Assistant while her family was young. After her children were grown, she worked at the Steamfitters UA Local 290 and the Gresham School District as a library aide. She was a consummate caregiver, devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Her family was her life, and she spent many years as a caregiver later in life to her husband.

Her Polish heritage and Catholic faith were very important to her, and she had many endearing stories of her childhood. Mary Lou and Dick had three grandchildren: Brittany Lyons of Wilsonville, Anthony Bonaduce of Portland, Laura Pappas of Tigard, and one great- grandson Tyson Gardner of West Linn.

They were members of Gateway and the Gresham Elks and they both enjoyed the Oregon Coast and taking road trips. Their favorite places to visit together were Kailua-Kona and Maui, Hawaii, where they often enjoyed staying with friends, and whale watching. Mom loved going to the airport just to watch the airplanes take off, it was one of her favorite past times later in life. At home, she could be found on the deck at all hours of the day and night, eyes towards the sky.

There will be a huge void in our life without our “little bird” and her feisty personality, humor, and kindness. She will remain deep within our hearts and souls, and we will cherish the love we have for her always.

Funeral services will be at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church on Tuesday, April 26, 2022 at 1:00pm.