Mary Veronica Gill Jennings passed away peacefully on September 15, 2017 with her family at her side.

She is survived by her loving husband of 58 years Daniel Edward Jennings and their five children Mary (Richard) Cumberland, Danny (Jennifer), Phil ( Alison), Tom ( Sheri), and Bob ( Jodi) and twelve grandchildren: Sean (Erika), Drew, Courtney, Andrew, Joshua,  Jacob, Sam, Cole, Hannah, Lilah, Sophie Jennings and Will Cumberland. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Marcille Gill and her brother-in-law and his wife Michael and Vivian Jennings and 10 nieces and nephews and their families and many friends.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents James and Veronica Gill and her brothers Father James J. Gill, S.J., Laurance Gill and her sister Loretta Gill.

Mary was famous for her smile, her willingness to organize and help others and her love for baking cakes for any occasion. She always looked at the bright side of a situation and always saw the best in others.  Her example of love and going the extra mile will be remembered by her family and friends.

She was born in Los Angeles on January 11, 1927 but Mary always considered San Francisco her hometown and lived there from 1928-1961.  She attended St. Mary's Hospital School of Nursing, received her bachelor's degree in nursing at The University of San Francisco and her master's degree at St. Louis University.

Mary worked at St. Mary's Hospital and was a nursing instructor at USF until her first child was born.  She later returned to nursing at Santa Rosa Medical Center in San Antonio after 13 years at home with her children.  She continued her nursing career at Rosewood Medical Center in Houston and then she worked at the Shalom Renewal Center in Splendora, TX where she was director of health education.  Then she and Dan assisted her brother Jim as he established The Jesuit Education Center for Human Sexuality.  This work took them to Boston, Chicago and Bethesda, MD.

Mary's Catholic faith was the center of her life.  She participated in the Sodality of Mary in St. Louis and in Bowie, Maryland.  She and Dan became involved in the Marriage Encounter Movement when living in San Antonio.  They were a "team couple" and facilitated Marriage Encounter Weekends all over the US.  It was at a Marriage Encounter meeting that they first heard of The Focolare Movement (an international ecumenical movement).  From that time on they became very active participants in the Focolare and living the Spirituality of Unity.

Mary attended daily Mass whenever possible and for years Mary and Dan would take Holy Communion to the homebound which led to many beautiful friendships.  When it became physically impossible for Mary to get to a church she began watching the daily Mass on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN).  Then it was her turn to be the recipient of visits from a variety of friends, old and new, who brought Jesus in the Eucharist to her.

Mary's beautiful smile, optimistic outlook and loving presence will be missed dearly by all who knew her.

The family will receive visitors Wednesday, September 20th from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Klein Funeral Home, Tomball with a Vigil Service to begin at 7:00 PM.  Funeral Mass will be celebrated Thursday, September 21st at 10:00 AM at St. Edwards Catholic Community; interment will be at 2:15 in Houston National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to Catholic Charities USA.