Mary Lynn Duell

    Mary Lynn Duell, the beloved wife of John Edwin Duell of Lethbridge, passed away peacefully at Lethbridge Regional Hospital on July 7th, 2023, at the age of 63.

    She is the loving mother of Kristina (Cole Fetting) of Lethbridge, Andrew (Tasha Overeem) of Lethbridge, and Tyler (Jordan Zalesak) of Lethbridge. She has three Grandchildren: Damon Orcutt, Brandon Duell, and Leo Duell.

    She is also survived by her siblings Ed (Pat) Leavitt, Peggy (Rod) Blackmore, Rod (Tammy) Leavitt, Laureen (Warren) Toth, Randy Leavitt, and Wendy (Adam) Salmon, and many extended family and good friends.

    She was predeceased by her parents Ardell Williams Leavitt & Mary Alice Leavitt, Millie & Glen Redford, Justin Rodney Leavitt, Kody Robin Blackmore, Teran Jacey (Clark) Kropf, and Darrien Plante.

    Mary Lynn was born on June 7th, 1960, in Cardston Alberta to Ardell and Alice Leavitt. One of seven children, she grew up in Cardston and spent much of her time helping with the family cleaning the post office and other Cardston businesses, assisting her mother with her many delicious baking projects and quilts, and serving the community alongside the rest of the family. She had many childhood friends (many of them cousins too) who stayed close throughout her life.

    After graduation, she moved to Lethbridge, and she worked as a travel agent, manager, and part owner of Scott’s Travel. While working there she met a “tall handsome young man” named John Duell. After a short group trip with friends to the Idaho Falls temple, they were married five months later on June 3rd, 1989. During their 34 wonderful years of marriage together, they had a life full of love and laughter! They loved travelling, taking trips to places like Hawaii, the Caribbean, Florida, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and driving most of the western United States and Canada. They spent most summers on the beach in Penticton BC where they loved the sunshine and the lake and were regularly seen holding hands while floating down the river channel. They also loved their spontaneous afternoon drives to places like Kalispell Montana, Waterton, Fernie, or wherever the road led, making friends everywhere they went.

    They were blessed to have three children: Kristina, Andrew, and Tyler, whom she loves and supports eternally. She was destined to be a wonderful mother, and many of her children’s friends felt she was like a mother to them as well! Their home always a place of love and kindness where all who entered felt welcomed and like part of the family!

    When all the kids were old enough, she went back to the workforce, working part-time/casual for Wilson Middle School and Winston Churchill High School in the front office as clerical support. Soon she became full-time working for the Lethbridge School District #51 as the Executive Assistant to the Superintendent, Mal Clewes, where she continued to make many good friends.

    She loved supporting her husband and daughter (and in more recent years Kristina’s handsome other half, Cole) with their many theatrical productions and you could often see her in the audience for their many musical theatre productions. She constantly had songs from musicals playing at home, and she loved hearing John sing. She also was by her sons, Andrew and Tyler’s, sides with their love of the outdoors, often watching them with their bikes out front of their family home or as they came racing down the mountains. The family had many dear dogs she loved over the past 15 years as well, and you would rarely see her without one of her cuddly dogs (Oreo, Tux, Kacy, Tori, and Sky) close by. She is reunited with her darling bichon shih-tzu, Oreo, now and we know she is holding him close again. She loved camping with the whole family and many of the families favorite and happiest moments were camping together throughout the summers. She loved that sunshine and fresh air! She also loved gardening! Her flower garden she cultivated and cared for alongside her husband have been well known in their area and she took great care trying to make the world more beautiful!

    She was a faithful Latter-day Saint her entire life and loved her Savior deeply. She made many lifelong friends and served in many church callings including in Young Women’s, Nursery, Primary, as well as being a Relief Society President, and served many years as a brilliant Family History Consultant. Her life was dedicated to loving and serving others, and that Christ-like love will always be remembered!

    At the time of her death, she had three handsome grandsons: Damon, Brandon, and Leo, with another grandchild on the way (she was excited to meet Tyler and Jordans little baby in November). These three precious grandkids brought light and joy with every visit, and she spoiled them like crazy (as every amazing Grandma does!) She cherished them, her kids, and her beloved husband John infinitely. Her love lives on in each of them, and all her loving friends and family members. We know we will be reunited with her when our time comes and will cherish her memory always!

    The family wants to express their heartfelt thanks to Dr. M. Wong for his tireless efforts, Dr. Wayne Burton & his staff, Canadian Blood Services, the Lethbridge Regional Hospital staff (especially the dialysis unit and nursing staff of 4B) who cared for her so diligently and with such love during her final days, and all those who have expressed their love and support.

    We love you forever Mary Lynn! Thank you for being the best Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Cousin, Aunt, and Friend imaginable!  We will meet once again, until that time “God be with you ‘til we meet again!”

    Friends may meet the family prior to the service from 10:00 to 10:50 am on Saturday, July 15, 2023 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mountain Heights Chapel, 175 Rocky Mountain Blvd West, Lethbridge. Funeral Services will begin at 11:00 a.m. with Brother Jim Laughlin officiating.

    Interment will follow at approximately 3:00 pm in the Leavitt Cemetery, Leavitt, Alberta.

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