Mary Elizabeth Milici
September 21, 1947 - March 23, 2005
Obituary
Mary Elizabeth Milici was born on September 21, 1947 in Tokyo, Japan. Her parents were Frank and Virginia Norman. She had two brothers, Mike and John. Her early years were spent overseas on military bases. She arrived from Germany in the United States when she was 13. She completed high school in Killeen, Texas before leaving home-pretty much for good-at 18. She moved to New York City and found work as a fashion model. She left New York to enroll in Baylor University’s Design and Architecture Program; she worked in the hospitality industry while in school. A free spirit at heart, she left Texas for San Francisco in the 60’s…with flowers in her hair.
She followed the rock bands of the 60’s from the West Coast to the islands of Hawaii and back. In 1969, her son Mick Justice was conceived in the Bay area and born in Honolulu during a hurricane. After his birth, she returned to the mainland and settled in Lake Tahoe where in 1970, her house burned down and her son was seriously injured. She spent the next eleven months at the Stanford Medical Center seeking help for her son. In the process, she found her faith in God and her salvation through His Son, Jesus. Shortly after Mick’s release from Stanford, Mary returned to Hawaii and joined a small church whose congregation included surfers, hippies, artists, and sleepy dogs. She was baptized in the Pacific Ocean.
While content with her life in a Christian commune, she longed for a traditional family situation for her son as much as for herself. She bought a one-way ticket to the West Coast. She met a group of Christian singer-performers in Los Angeles and traveled with them to their smaller commune on the Olympic Peninsula. It was in Forks that she met Ken Milici, whom she married in March 1973 in Port Angeles.
Mary graduated from Peninsula College in Port Angeles and enrolled at Western Washington University in Bellingham. She graduated in 1978 with a BA in English/Theater. In Bellingham, Mary’s interest in art came alive and she studied drawing and began to work with stained glass. The family left Bellingham in 1981 and settled in Seattle. Mary studied Early Childhood Education at South Seattle Community College and received a Diploma from the Art Institute of Seattle in Layout and Production Art. Throughout this period, she worked at the YMCA daycare program and in the hotel/restaurant business.
Mary leaves behind her son Mick, grandchildren Cassie, Anthony and Margaret, countless friends and customers whose spirits were touched by her random acts of kindness. She considered her illness an opportunity for people to draw close to God in their appeals to Him for her well-being. She entered eternal life without fear, passing over peacefully on the sunlit morning of March 23, 2005. She was grateful for the exceptional care she received at Highline Community Hospital–the Hospital with a Heart. Mary would like you to remember her by being kind to children. If you would like to make an outfit of clothes for a sick child in a hospital…that would honor Mary’s wishes. Or tell a story. The Greatest of them is, that God loves us all. Go, tell it on a Mountain. We thank you kindly, Lady Mary, for gracing us with God’s own love.
This photo and memoriam of Mary encapsules the free-spirited sister-in-law that I loved. She is now truly free.
The smile–che bella faccia! Ti voglio molto. Lady Mary. Dave washing his car. In this town, we only go up to mayor. We’ll play! Monopoly and Solotaire. I don’t want to hurt you; I love you so much. It was a fair fight. Moving to the Light. Of use to Him. I feel blessed. Elvis is the King and Jesus is the Lord…as in THEE LORD. Wringing out the rug. Quit standing in my smoke. If you don’t like my peaches, don’t shake my tree. Born again–that means your spirit must be able to bear witness, recognize His. He wants us to ask him in; we can start over. For better or for worse, it is forever.
My thoughts and prayers are with Mary’s family. I am the niece of Mary, however, I never had the opportunity to meet her. It sounds as though she has touched the hearts of many.
to my wonderful sister who was a joy to those who knew her, my love and prayers are with you. You will be missed by everyone.
My fondest memories of Mary were through photos and slides her parents would bring out whenever I visited them. They shared many wonderful stories of Mary growing up and I feel as though I have always known her. I hope she knew how much she was loved by her family. Mary will always be in our thoughts and prayers, as well as, Ken, her son Mick, and grandchildren Cassie, Anthony, and Margaret.
Areally free spirit has left us but that infectious,easy smile will linger on forever.
Mick and Ken have suffered ahuge loss . Our love and
prayers are with them .”
I met Mary in Bellingham the summer of 2003. I took stained glass lessons from her & she shared some great stories… she was an AMAZING person & a volcano goddess.
We had 5 years together…Im very sad you arent here with us.Rest peaceful mu hippie chick
Mary Mary Mary Mary… How you helped shape the woman I am today. The unjudging, unconditional love you taught me to give by giving it to me stays with me still. The homemade cookies, the spaghetti, the magic joints, the stack of dollars you’d share with us from your tips. The sewing, the stain glass, the art! I could go on about you for hours. The stories, the talks, you had answers to all my questions, so much knowledge to share. So much LOVE. REAL LOVE. I’ve never had even a comparable relationship. I am forever grateful for the time I had with you, the things you taught me. To know you was to know a genuine love, something majority of us never know. I love you, Thank you. You were one of a kind. I can only hope to be half the woman you were. I love you Virgo
Mick was my best friend in kindergarten, and I have prayed for and thought of he and his wonderful family ever since. I remember his mom as being sweet and loving, with a brilliant smile. Love and prayers, Barbara
Mary-I am writing a poem to honor you, my sweet, sweet friend. I love and miss you so much.
Your spirit has been so present with me ever since you’ve been gone. It’s odd to think I’ve been alive nearly 3 times as long as I knew you….and I still think of you every day. I feel you every time I pick up a paintbrush, when I make potato pancakes, when I walk through the zoo and see the anteaters. If I close my eyes I can still hear the sound of your slippers sliding against the floor of the old house in Des Moines. You taught me the true meaning of light. It was a privilege to be loved by you. Thank you for the beautiful sunset at my wedding. I know you were there.