Mary Lou Quinn

A funeral Mass for Mary Lou Quinn, 82, a Carson City resident for the past 28 years, will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Friday at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Community.

Visitation in the church begins at 6 p.m. with a vigil service at 7 p.m. Thursday at the church.

Mrs. Quinn died Aug. 7, 2004, at home. She was born April 13, 1922, in Butte, Mont., to Edward F. and Helena McCarthy Connors.

Mrs. Quinn graduated from St. Mary's Grade School and Girls Central High School in Butte. She received her bachelor's degree in vocal performance from St. Mary's College (University of St. Mary), Leavenworth, Kan., in 1944.

Following her graduation, she taught in rural schools in Montana. She sang for two years with the San Francisco Opera Company. She also toured with the USO along the West Coast following World War II.

She married Edward A. Quinn of Butte Sept. 14, 1948, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Butte. He preceded her in death on Aug. 16, 2001.

Following several years of raising her six children, Mrs. Quinn began teaching again in 1963. She was the first woman to teach at Boys Central High School, teaching Glee Club and Band, and participating in several high school musicals.

Mrs. Quinn began teaching music in the Butte Public School System in 1970.

After moving with her family to Tucson, Ariz., in 1972, Mrs. Quinn taught at St. Ambrose Elementary School. Following her move to Carson City with her family in 1975, Mrs. Quinn worked for the city of Carson City, retiring as a librarian of the Carson City Library in 1992.

Mrs. Quinn was an active member of St. Teresa of Avila Community, working as a soloist, choir director and accompanist for many years. Throughout her adult life, she was a church musician in her own church and other denominations and coached private voice students. She remembered singing for the fall Holy Days in the Jewish community in Butte as a significant event in her career.

Among her survivors are her sons Lou of Carson City and Tom and daughter-in-law Julie of Helena, Mont.; daughters and sons-in-law Patt Quinn-Davis and John Davi, and Connie and Tom Fronapfel, all of Carson City, and Julie and Peter Kiernan of Roseville, Minn.; daughter Sr. Mary Jo Quinn, SCL, of Kansas City, Mo.; sister, Patt Gillen of Reno; brother and sister-in-law Robert Connors and Helen Quinn Shea of Butte; seven grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Mary's Hospice of Northern Nevada, 3264 Goni Road, Suite 151, Carson City, 89706.

FitzHenry's Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.