Mary Dawn Glenn, Dawn to everyone that knew her, was born December 16, 1919. Over the almost century of her life, she was always what we aspire to be, but often don’t become – kind, open-hearted, curious and giving. Her gentle caring filled all who knew her; it humbled us, and muffled our cynicism. The world can’t be too bad of a place if it makes a person like her.

Dawn was the only child of Joseph W. McNally and Rose Baumrucher. Dawn grew up in the dunes of southern Lake Michigan, in the industrial steel city of Gary, Indiana during the roaring 20s. She often talked about taking the train to visit her relatives in nearby Cicero, Chicago, and her real childhood fear of running across Al Capone, a neighbor. The region’s mash-up of European immigrants were reflected in her own heritage of Irish – Czech. But it was her strong Irish Catholic upbringing that defined the center of her life – her faith. Another defining part of her life was the disaster of the Great Depression. Her father died early in the 1930s leaving her mother almost penniless. In order to survive, Dawn, only 13, was sent to live with family friends in deep southern Texas. After a year, her beloved uncle, Father Frank McGuire, secured her a place at convent school near Chicago. At the convent, her faith deepened and her appreciation for even the smallest things in life was firmly fixed. Food was scarce in the Depression, and her one treat was a once-a-month apple. Dawn was always thankful for any and everything, yet another aspect about her that we aspired to make our own.

She graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in 1937 and went back to Gary where she worked briefly as a store clerk. Not long after she met the love of her life, Daniel Glenn. He played the piano at the Knights of Columbus and swept her away with his jazz mastery. Dan had a job, one of the few, at US Steel’s Gary Works, the largest steel mill in the world at the time. They got married in 1939, secured an apartment in downtown Gary and began to build their lives as the country got back on its feet. Their first daughter arrived in 1941, Patricia, just before the US entered WWII. Dan worked through the ranks and eventually became a superintendent of the Gary Works Store House, which allowed them to build their dream home back in the dunes of the Miller Beach neighborhood of Gary. Another daughter, Nora, arrived over a decade later and after another decade, their third daughter, Mary (Beth), was born. Life in Miller Beach was idyllic. A one-block walk got you to the singing sands of the Lake Michigan shoreline or the forests of the dunes she loved to roam in, and neighbors became life-long friends.

Unfortunately, Dan’s failing heart forced him to retire early. Not long after, in the mid-1970s, America’s steel production collapsed, and Gary, Indiana never recovered. With their home city falling apart around them, Dawn’s family relocated to Valparaiso, Indiana. Tragedy struck again a few months later, when Dan died suddenly in 1977. To make ends meet, Dawn got a job as a librarian in the children’s section of Valparaiso’s public library, a position she dearly loved. She, naturally, became great friends with her neighbors and became an integral part of her church community by teaching Sunday school after receiving her Associates in religious studies. Later, in the 1990s, Dawn got to travel overseas to visit her daughter Mary (Beth) in Mexico and Grenada and she took a trip to the old country, Ireland.

She continued to live and thrive in Valparaiso, brightening the lives around her, until 2001 when she moved west to Humboldt County, California to be with her daughter Mary (Beth) and her family. Mary (Beth), her husband Keith and son Marcus all cared for Dawn, as well as Dawn’s loving, dear friends Nichole Coroush-Ownbey and Myron Ownbey.

Until the end, Dawn never complained, she had a smile and wave for everyone, and she was always grateful to everyone and for everything. She made all who met her glad to know her. She died gently in the morning on May 21, 2016 surrounded by family and with her devoted cat Tina on her lap. We all will dearly miss her.

Dawn is survived by her daughter Patricia King and family, her daughter Nora Glenn, son-in-law Don Mooers, granddaughter Maggie Glenn Mooers, and daughter Mary (Beth) Glenn, son-in-law Keith Bensen and grandson Marcus Glenn Bensen (with whom she used to play soccer and eat chocolate.)

In lieu of flowers, Dawn wished that prayers be requested for her and donations be made to the Benedictine Sisters of the Sacred Heart, 1910 Maple Ave., Lisle, IL 60532-2164; (630) 725-6000; http://www.shmlisle.org/. The date for the memorial mass and celebration of life is forthcoming.

Please join the family on June 4th at 11 a.m. for a memorial service at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1690 Janes Rd., Arcata, CA 95521.

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The obituary above was submitted by Mary Dawn Glenn’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.