Mary Lou Henry Liptrot

On the morning of February 3rd our beloved mother, Mary Lou age 95 passed away peacefully at the Green Feather care home in Brentwood, CA.

Born in Chicago Il. on September 20th, 1929, to Leo and Louise (Beauchamp) Topping, primarily of English and French Canadian decent, Mary Lou was the last surviving daughter of her sister siblings (LaVerne, Beverly, and Nancy) where she spent her childhood years growing up on the south side of Chicago. Mother was most proud of her father, (Leo) a Fireman for the Chicago Fire Department.

Mary Lou attended Gage Park H.S. in Chicago where she met her future husband of 25 yrs. Charles L. Henry, father of her 6 sons.

In 1946 Charles enlisted in the U.S. Navy and while stationed in Florida, Charles summoned Mary Lou to Florida where he asked for hand in marriage. On September 23rd, 1946, Charles and Mary Lou (high school sweethearts) married in Key West Florida. Unfortunately, a short time later Charles was seriously injured in a car accident and in early 1948 was given a medical discharge from the Navy and returned home to his wife Mary Lou to start a family of their own. Where in 1950 they welcomed their first-born son Charles Michael, to be followed by 5 sibling brothers, Keith Edward, Terrance Lee, Wayne David, Shawn Thomas (deceased) and Theodore Leonard Henry. In 1960 mom and dad moved from Hometown IL into a new house located in Chicago Ridge IL, where her family (boys) were primarily raised and went to school. 

Growing up and through the years, our mother, a grandmother, 2x over, great, great grandmother Mary Lou was a very loving caring mother and devoted housewife who in 1964 decided to help her family cash flow and went back to working full time swing shift as a PBX switchboard operator for St. Francis Hospital in Blue Island, Il. where she stayed employed until moving to Northern California in 1976. Mother always put family needs first, which included her furry little friends, (Birds, Gunnie Pigs or dog Midget) while also managing to find time to keep important relationships alive through social activities and hobbies with friends and loved ones, actively help run women's social card clubs and weight watchers group activities. Her personal favorite activities where bowling, (on a team) most of her adult life, and creating super themed fun photo albums and picture collages captured over the years from special family events.

Upon mother's divorce from our father Charles 1973, mom met second husband-to-be John Liptrot who she shared 44 years of life together until his passing in 2018. Mary Lou and John where married on August 20, 1974, and resided in Robbins, Il until 1976, when mother and new husband (John) migrated west to California to be closer to her father Leo, (our grandfather) and her sons (living with father Charles) who was also located in Novato, Ca. Where in 1976 she continued to work as a PBX switchboard operator for Ross General Hospital, located Marin county, followed by Queen of the Valley hospital out of Napa, CA. where she officially retired from in 1990. Where upon Mother and John decided to build their beautiful retirement home in Valley Springs, Ca. where they lived until 2005 but for health reasons decided to move back to Napa where she lived until John's passing. It shall be stated.. mother was so proud of their beautiful home and especially enjoyed hosting family birthdays, anniversaries and milestones and above all, her favorite time of the year was celebrating the Birth of Christ and the sharing in Christmas with her family. Her home awash in Christmas decorations, she was especially proud of her beautiful white flocked Christmas tree to display for us to ooh and ahh over. Thanks for the Memories Momma!

Mother,
Thank You for all of the precious moments and happy family memories, the mountains of family photos you left for us to cherish, remember and celebrate your life! We know you will be smiling down upon us from heaven and will be Dearly Missed by All you have touched with your loving heart.

God Bless you Mother.

Mary Lou is survived by her 5 sons, (1 deceased) 7 grandchildren (two deceased), 11 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

Our Beloved Mother's Life celebration and funeral services will be held on March 6th, 11:00 am – 4:00pm at Tulocay Funeral home and Cemetry,411 Coombsville, Rd., Napa California

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