Mary Christensen

Mary Carolyn Baebler Christensen—loving and beloved wife of Jim; mother of Pete and Karl; mother-in-law of Monica and Livia; grandmother of Jake, Nicholas, Grace, and Julian; grandmother-in-law of Jana; great-grandmother of Asbjarne; sister of Bill; sister-in-law of Sherry, Judy, and Jan; aunt of America, Andrea, Carolyn, and Dan; great-aunt of Abbie Jo and Elise; and cherished member of a vast circle of friends—died suddenly and peacefully at home in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. She was in her favorite reclining chair, gazing out the rear windows at the May-green woods, with the New York Times, a cup of cocoa, and a snack on the table beside her.

Mary’s life was a testament to fierce love and unwavering belief in her children. She championed human rights with quiet but unshakable strength, holding firm to her convictions in justice, dignity, and compassion for all. She loved all life—human, animal, and plant—with a deep and natural reverence. Her home and garden were filled with thriving greenery, and she delighted in the presence of animals as fellow beings of beauty and meaning, especially those who came to the porch seeking food and sometimes finding shelter in our house, but always in her heart.

Next to her family, Mary considered her greatest accomplishment to be earning her nursing degree in her fifties and serving with compassion and courage as an AIDS nurse during the most harrowing years of the epidemic.

An avid photographer throughout her adult life, she captured the beauty and complexity of the world around her—her family, her travels, nature, and daily life—with an attentive and artistic eye. Her photos were windows into her sense of wonder and love.

Her deepest joys came from being with her loved ones and traveling with them to both familiar and far-flung places across the globe.

Mary’s life was marked by warmth, resilience, and unyielding care for others. Her fierce spirit touched many and her legacy lives on in the love she gave, the lives she uplifted, and the truths she never backed down from. She will be remembered not only for her deep devotion to her family and friends, but also for her bravery, her humor, her artistry, and her unshakable kindness.

Celebration of Life will be Saturday, July 19, 2025 10-11:30AM at Lyndhurst Community of Faith Church, Bloomfield Hall, 5312 Mayfield Road, Lyndhurst, OH 44124.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mary's memory may be made to: Cleveland Animal Protective League at
https://clevelandapl.org/honor-memorial-donations/

Arrangements by FIORITTO FUNERAL SERVICE OF NORTHEAST OHIO www.FiorittoFS.com