Mary Rose Liebler

Mary Rose Liebler died peacefully on May 6, 2021 in Littleton, Colorado.  Born on December 16, 1931, Mary Rose was the youngest daughter of Hugh and Mary Desmond of Canton, New York.  She trained as a registered nurse at the A. Barton Hepburn Hospital in Ogdensburg, New York and received a B.S. in Nursing from Catholic University in Washington, DC.  Mary Rose married Paul E. Liebler in 1957 and they settled in Washington, DC and later in suburban Maryland, where they raised their four children, Dan (Karen) Liebler (Brentwood, Tennessee), Marge (Jim) Liebler (Denver, Colorado), Andy (Jill) Liebler (Austin, Texas) and Martha Gibson (Stonington, Connecticut).  In addition to her husband and children, Mary Rose is survived by grandchildren Gayle, Joy, Kaye, Andrew, Colin, Carly and Erin, great-grandchildren Christopher and Olivia and dear friends Rita and Greg Davis. 
 
Mary Rose worked nearly two decades in geriatric nursing, including fifteen as Director of Nursing at Fernwood House in Bethesda, Maryland, which never failed to achieve a perfect score from state inspectors under her leadership.  Mary Rose was also a community volunteer nurse in Washington, DC and at Resurrection City during the Poor Peoples March on Washington in 1968.  After she and Paul retired to Boulder, she worked as a hospice volunteer for fifteen years and was honored as hospice volunteer of the year.  Mary Rose completed a four year Scripture Studies course wth the Catholic Archdiocese of Denver and thereafter taught Scripture Studies at Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish in Boulder.  Her thoughtful guidance inspired participants.
 
Mary Rose inspired her family throughout her life.  A loving mother who combined high expectations with assurance, wisdom and humor, she let her children find their own paths.  She was a master of gentle persuasion.  A loving wife and companion to Paul, she was the guiding light through 64 years of marriage.  As memory loss and dementia progressively claimed her over the last decade, Mary Rose showed grace and serenity.  Her family and friends carry her spirit in their hearts.  A funeral mass will be held at Sacred Heart of Mary Church in Boulder at 10 am on June 1, 2021.
 

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