Mary Lillian Jean LeVasseur

May 25, 1925 - March 14, 2018

Mary Lillian Jean Anderson LeVasseur Mary LeVasseur passed away Wednesday March 14, 2018. She was surrounded by family her last day on earth and all present experienced heaven’s comfort and peace. Mary was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on May 25, 1925 to Thomas William and Mary Jane (Fisher) Anderson. She later moved with her family to Toronto, Ontario. Mary was raised by a loving family who instilled in her the values of self-reliance, community service, and unconditional love. Growing up in French Quebec, Mary learned to speak both French and English. She loved ice skating and roller skating and memories from her youth include large family gatherings, and earning money for preforming with a skating troupe. Mary fell in love with Armand Norman LeVasseur, an American who was serving in the Merchant Marines. They were married January 5, 1946 in Toronto. The newlyweds moved to the United States and eventually settled in Reno, Nevada. They were blessed with two girls and a boy. While their oldest child was 10 years-old, Mary and Armand were both diagnosed with cancer and hospitalized. Mary was wheeled to Armand’s side when he succumbed to lung cancer at the age of 45. She recovered and returned home to raise their three children. She worked full-time to support her young family and still found time to volunteer in hospitals and senior centers, and to serve in community organizations. Her children remember growing up with a very supportive and loving mother. They remember fun family vacations and an abundance of neighborhood, school, and community activities. One of Mary’s greatest talents was making new friends. Her neighbors remember her as an energetic, bright-spirited woman who always loved to share a laugh, a smile, and a Werther’s Butterscotch candy. Even in her nineties, Mary often defeated family and friends at cornhole by sinking three or more bean bags in a row. She always kept cinnamon in her purse, so she could add a dash whenever she ate ice cream. She loved dark chocolate, pepper, marmalade, and she loved cheddar cheese on her apple pie. She liked hot things hot and cold things cold! Mary was U.S.A. patriotic and very proud that she had fulfilled the requirements to become a U.S. citizen. She was an amazing hostess and often invited family and friends to her home for a delicious meal like her famous chicken fricassee. Mary moved to Utah in 1976. She attended classes at BYU, University of Utah and The School of the Blind in Ogden. She learned braille and other skills to teach blind elementary students. She loved this work. She earned her real state license and enjoyed being a realtor. Mary traded that career to be the nanny for a wonderful family for nearly 10 years. She purchased a building lot and designed her custom home that she planned never to leave. Mary’s independent mindset was still evident in her later years as she was determined to continue living in her own home. Grandma Mary or GranMary as she is called by her grandchildren, is dearly loved by her family and friends. . We will miss her “toodle-oo”, her “I love you”, as well as her grateful heart, her sense of humor, and her generous, caring nature. Mary is survived by daughters Gwen L. Salisbury (Grant), Marion L. Straw (Michael), and son Leonard (Len) LeVasseur. Mary and her family are sincerely grateful to Valerie and all of Mary’s neighbors and friends who cared and served her beyond measure! No wonder she never wanted to leave her Cedar Hills home -- Her neighbors and friends there made her life a little bit of heaven on earth. The double rainbow over Mary’s home the day of her passing symbolizes her message to us that she is happy, at peace, and with loved-ones on the other side. Go to www.serenityfhs.com to view and share tributes, photos, and videos. A memorial service will be held 12:00 Noon Saturday March 24th, 2018 at the Cedar Hills 3rd Ward meetinghouse at 4425 West Cedar Hills Drive in Cedar Hills, UT. She will be buried next to her loving husband Armand. A graveside service will be at Mountain View Cemetery, 435 Stoker Avenue in Reno, Nevada. Thanks to Silverado Rehabilitation; Cottonwood Place, and Serenity Funeral Home for their genuine caring.