Mary E. Lenoir, beloved mom, grandma, mimaw, great-grandma, great-great-grandma and sister, passed away on December 14, 2009, at the age of 98 years at her home in Sylmar, California.

Mary Emma Delong was born on April 10, 1911, in St. John's Township, Rolette County, near St. John, North Dakota, to O. Lee and Harriet (Allery) DeLong.

Mary was known as Mae from childhood by family and friends. Mae and Bernard "Barney" Lenoir, of Belcourt, ND were married in 1933 by Father Hildebrand at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Belcourt. They resided in rural Belcourt and ll of their 12 children were born there. In May 1954, the family relocated to Marty, South Dakota. Their youngest child was born in Marty. Mae enjoyed working with the Sisters in the sewing room and also managed Marty's Little Store, similar to the "Bundles" store at St. Ann's in Belcourt.

As the children completed their education they moved to Southern California, In 1973, Barney and Mae moved to Southern California to be near their children and families.
In 1976, they moved to Thorne, North Dakota, spent two years there and returned to Baldwin Park, California. Her beloved husband of 64 years passed away in October of 1997. Mae moved to Sylmar, CA in 2000. Mae loved gardening, sewing, baking, canning and looked forward to all family events. She was excited with each new grandchild and great-grandchild that blessed her family.

Mae experienced the ultimate mother's sorrow with the loss of four of her children; Eddie in 1941, Bernice in 1978, Richard "Dickie" in 1997 and Patty in 2004; and two granddaughters, Debbie Lenoir and Megan Marciano. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Barney; four brothers, John, George, Ernest and an infant brother; four sisters, Stella Lindsey, Rose Bercier, Nancy LaFromboise and Gladys "Babes" Nelson; son-in-law, Tom Navin and daughter-in-law, JoAnn Lenoir.

Mae is survived by eight children, Wally (Addie) Lenoir of San Dimas, CA, Dorie Navin of Rancho Cucamonga, CA, Helen (Leroy) Sweeney of Lakewood, CO, Steve (Vicky Ingersol) Lenoir of LaMar, AR, Jim Lenoir of Las Vegas, NV, Eileen (Dave) Millsaps of Statesville, NC, Donna (Tom) Marciano of Granada Hills, CA, and Tessie (Dave) Warren of Newhall, CA; 28 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren; Sisters, Leona Olson of Great Falls, MT and Liz (Sam) Laducer of Rolette, ND and sister-in-law, Eva Lenoir Wilkie of Belcourt, ND.

Services were held at Queen of Heaven Mortuary Chapel in Rowland Heights, CA. Visitation and Rosary were held on Friday, December 18, 2009, and Funeral Mass on Saturday, December 19, 2009, with interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery following the Mass.