Mary Jo's service can be viewed live at: https://youtu.be/xTuJigt9Y3k

Mary Jo Fenstad, loving wife, daughter, mother, sister, grandmother and friend passed away peacefully at her home in Cypress in the arms of her family on August 30, 2021.

Mary Jo was born on November 25, 1946 in Omaha, Nebraska. Growing up there as one of seven children.  In 1968, she married her husband of 52 years, Larry Fenstad.  Larry was serving in the Air Force in San Antonio at the time and in 1969 they settled down back in Omaha to raise a family. Soon thereafter, their son Keith was born in 1970 and daughter Lorie was born in 1972. As the result of a job transfer, Mary Jo and Larry courageously uprooted the family and moved to northwest Houston in 1986.

Mary Jo's main priority was her family, but she also worked as an office manager for a couple of small firms during her working years. Her exceptional organizational skill along with her wit and attitude quickly endeared herself to others whether that be co-workers, friends or neighbors. Being someone who's easy to talk with, many looked to her as a "second mom", always willing to speak her mind and tell it like it is.

Mary Jo's thoughtfulness, creativity and generosity were felt by all that knew her. She was an active soul and loved working with her hands. Whether that was sewing, cooking or any project around the house.  Her sewing machine was seemingly always in use! Just last year she bought material and sewed over 1,000 masks and gave them to friends, family and nearby senior homes.

She also loved to bring joy to others by cooking and baking. Especially around the holidays where she would spend countless hours baking goodies and delivering them to friends and family.

Her two favorite pastimes were related to hitting it big! She hit the garage sales most weekends looking for hidden treasure to buy and resell.  It was easy money for her as she had a keen eye and a knack to buy low and sell high. She loved the big payday! Just like playing Blackjack, her other favorite pastime, and loved to hit the casinos and Las Vegas every opportunity she had.

Without question, she loved spending time with her family, especially her four grandchildren.  She was there for every occasion, big and small. From birthdays to concerts, awards ceremonies, football games and more. She was always there.

The grandkids loved playing cards with grandma, especially "31". She always played to win and she usually did. The grandkids would accuse her of cheating, but it was always good fun.

Cooking and baking around the holidays with the grandchildren was a particularly special time. Often accompanied by helping grandma assemble her prized snow village. She taught them to make her famous Thanksgiving pumpkin pies and they looked forward to it every year. One year grandma said she wasn't going to make pumpkin pies, but the grandkids wouldn't hear of it. They insisted on making pies with her. It is one of their most cherished memories, and one they will continue in honor of their grandmother, and hopefully pass down to their own kids one day.

Mary Jo was one of a kind. Her laughter, sense of humor and quick wit will be deeply missed by anyone who was lucky enough to know her.

Mary Jo is now eternally reunited with her husband Larry who passed earlier this year in March 2021, along with her parents Ben & Christine Oliver, siblings Betty Olsen, Dick Oliver, Benny Oliver and Genie Sue Gonzales. Mary Jo is survived by her children Keith and Dawn Fenstad and Lorie and Todd Gergurek and her four cherished grandchildren, Grace Fenstad, Grant Fenstad, Cody Gregurek and Elizabeth Gregurek.  She is also survived by two adoring sisters Diane Pinney and Linda Aldrich.