Mary Vollmer

Mary Vollmer made her last journey in this life at Providence Mount St. Vincent in West Seattle, her home after Hailey, Idaho. She was 88 years old. Mary was preceded in death by Chuck Vollmer, her loving husband of more than 50 years. She is survived by her children, Karla (Alain) Rinckwald, Lisa (Rocky) Yost and Joe, and her grandchildren, Lindsay, William and Joel.

Mary grew up in Seattle. She lived in Honolulu for a few years as a young woman, raised her family in Spokane, Wash., and enjoyed her retirement years in Washington state and Hailey, Idaho. Besides having a career in the insurance industry, Mary was a tireless volunteer for her children’s schools, her church and her community.

A Hailey resident for 14 years, Mary greatly enjoyed living in the Wood River Valley, volunteering at the Hailey library and the Blaine Manor Auxiliary, teaching citizenship classes for immigrants and participating in St. Charles Catholic parish liturgies and events. She took pleasure attending Sun Valley Summer Symphony concerts, Company of Fools productions and many Senior Center activities.

Mary loved to travel. As a young woman in the 1950s, she traveled on her own throughout Europe. In retirement, she and Chuck enjoyed tagging along on tours that their tour guide son-in-law, Alain, organized throughout the American West, Alaska and Australia. She and Chuck also went on a number of Elderhostel tours in Europe.

Anyone who knew Mary knew that she was a wonderful cook and loved to entertain. Whether she was welcoming a busload of French tourists, hosting a family reunion for the families of Chuck’s seven brothers and sisters or having a neighborhood party, hospitality came naturally to her.

It is fitting that she died in Seattle, a city that has always been close to her heart, and where two of her children settled. Funeral arrangements are being made by Howden Kennedy Funeral Home in Seattle. A memorial Mass is planned on Feb. 8 at 9:30 a.m. in Pigott Chapel of Providence Mount St. Vincent Home in Seattle, WA. Interment will be at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, June 4, 2016 at the Hailey Cemetery with Teresa Gregory officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either the Hospice & Palliative Care of the Wood River Valley (www.hpcwrv.org) or the Providence Mount St. Vincent Foundation (www.washington.providence.org/donate/mount-st-vincent-foundation/).