Mary Lanz

Mary Lanz was born Oct. 29, 1912, in Tacoma, to Stephen and Mary Pokrifchak. She was the third of six children; her siblings were Steve, Katherine (Wright), Ann (Caster), Joe, and Margaret (Cooper). In the 1920s, the family moved to Roslyn, Wash., where Stephen worked in the mines. In the 1930s, the family moved to South Prairie, Wash., where they farmed, milked cows, kept chickens and livestock and struggled to survive during the Depression years.

From the age of 14, Mary worked hard at a cannery job. When she was 34 years old, she met the love of her life at a New Year’s Eve Grange dance near Tacoma. Thomas Lanz, a World War II veteran, was a bit tipsy from celebrating that night when he asked Mary for her phone number. Because she did not think he would ever remember it, she gave it to him. He immediately asked his sister at the dance to write it down for him, and he called Mary the next day. They were married on July 27, 1947, and had two daughters, Joan and Chris. Theirs was a happy, all-American family of the 1950s with plenty of family and friends surrounding them.

Tom passed away after a heart attack in 1995, and Mary moved to Whidbey Island to live with her younger daughter in 1997. She loved her little house next door to her daughter’s, and kept it spic and span. Mary loved to cook, and was always ready to try new recipes. She often made breads, pies and delicious candy.

After a stroke in August 2007, Mary moved to Careage of Whidbey, where she received kind and loving care from the staff there — just like they would treat their own dear mothers. Mary suffered a heart attack in mid-February and passed away on Feb. 23.

Mary is survived by sister Margaret Cooper (Ken); daughters Joan Dolman (Gary) and Chris Lanz (Len Eserhut); granddaughters Whitney Dolman (Wylie Sampson), Ann Tjhung (Tim), Jennifer Pack (Brian); and great-grandchildren Andrew, Nicolas and Jasmine Tjhung, and Nora and Olivia Pack.

Viewing will be at Burley Funeral Chapel at 30 SE Ely Street in Oak Harbor on Wednesday, Feb. 27, from 5 to 8 p.m., and at Powers Funeral Home at 320 West Pioneer in Puyallup, on Feb. 29 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Services will be held at Powers Funeral Home in Puyallup on Friday, Feb. 29, at 1 p.m., with informal reception to follow. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.