Mary Magdalen Sabey

Mary Magdalen Sabey passed away peacefully in her sleep on June 30, 2023 just short of her 102nd birthday.  Mary (Maggie to all her North Dakota friends) was born in Mandan, North Dakota on July 20, 1921 to Jacob and Barbara Schantz.  Mary’s family owned a small hotel in Mandan where she was raised and attended local schools.  In 1942 a young Mary embarked on an adventure that would define the rest of her life.  Mary and her girlfriend Marcella (Marley) Haider decided to go west as Mary said “Because that’s where the jobs were”. Mary and Marley hitch hiked to Tacoma where Marley had relatives.  They were able to find part time work there but were looking for full time work.  They decided they needed to go to a larger city to find work and decided on either Portland or Seattle.  To solve the question of where to go they decided to flip a coin…Seattle won and the rest is history.  Mary was able to secure work at the Boeing Company which was supporting the WWll war effort (Mary was a real Rosie the Riveter) and there she met her future husband Harold.  Mary and Harold were married on October 10, 1942, a marriage that lasted 60 years until Harold’s death in May of 2003.  They had three children Dean, David and Patty and the family loved to travel.  There were many family vacations traveling to North Dakota to visit family and friends.  Mary especially liked warm weather and Mary and Harold traveled many times to Palm Springs and especially Hawaii.  Mary had a special love for Hawaii and in her later years enjoyed many trips to the Islands. Mary especially enjoyed family gatherings that included her children, grand children and great grand children.  Any anniversary, birthday, or holiday was an occasion for family get togethers.  Mary leaves behind her sons Dean (Darlene) and David (Sandy) and her daughter Patty Bryant (Denny), 9 grand children and 15 great grand children who will all miss her dearly.    

Any remembrances will be donated to the Providence Mount Saint Vincent Foundation.

Mass and Reception will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Seahurst, Washington (15226 21st Ave SW, Burien, WA 98062) on Saturday, August 12, 2023 at 11:00AM. 

To share your condolences and memories of Mary, please visit her Tribute Wall, located above. 

- Care Entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home -

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