Mary Lieven

Passed away Friday, May 19, 2023, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Mary Lou was born September 6, 1940, in Davenport, Iowa. She was the oldest daughter of the late Fred and Anna Mae (Wallace) Lieven. After graduating from Alleman High School in 1957, Mary went to St. Ambrose College in Davenport and received her RN in 1961 and BSN in 1962.

After completing her education, Mary Lou began her nursing career at the University of Colorado Medical Center. After 1 year, she relocated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to continue her career. Professionally, Mary Lou worked as a staff nurse, head nurse, Nursing School Instructor, supervisor, and director, all with Milwaukee County Medical Center. She taught for over 20 years in Critical Care. In 1976 she received her master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. She stopped teaching in 1989 and went into Nursing Management with the County Hospital. Upon the Medical Center’s closing, in December of 1995, Mary Lou relocated to Froedtert Hospital until her Retirement in 2006. She assumed many titles at Froedtert Hospital including Assistant to the Vice President of Patient Care Services, Project Director, Director of Clinical Systems Communication and Director of Nursing Administration and Staffing.

Mary Lou loved to ski, play tennis and golf. She had season tickets for the Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Ballet and Symphony and really enjoyed the Pops Series. She loved to travel and was an avid sports fan, always carving out time to watch and cheer for the Green Bay Packers (much to her brother-in-law’s dismay), Marquette, and the Wisconsin Badgers. She was a member of St. Mary’s in Elm Grove. She never missed special occasions with her family and friends and was always up for a debate and good conversation.

She is survived by her devoted sister, Kathy and brother-in-law Mort Downey, nieces and nephew Christine Downey, Michael (Lisa Marie Schultz) Downey, Michelle (Steve) Hutton, Kelli (Dave) Vanderpool, and Kim (Scott) Hamilton; as well as great nephews and nieces, Adam (Kelly), Peter, and Joshua Hutton, Jack and Emily Vanderpool, and Lauren, Taylor, and Anna Hamilton. She is also survived by many dear cousins and wonderful and cherished friends. She will be missed by many.

Visitation will be held on Thursday June 8, 2023 at St Mary's Visitation Parish from 9:30 a.m. until her Memorial Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Private Interment will be at St. Michael’s Cemetery 1109 Warrenville Rd, Wheaton, IL 60187. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts to support cancer research can be made to the Medical College of Wisconsin, Attn: Office of Institutional Advancement, P.O. Box 26509, Milwaukee, WI 53226-0509.