Mary Ellen Parkinson (84) was born July 26, 1937 in Kenosha, WI and passed away in her beloved California on April 16, 2022.

Mary Ellen was born to Mathias J. and Margaret A. Fosbinder in Kenosha, WI.  She graduated from Mary D. Bradford High School and went on to UW-Madison and Milwaukee's Columbia Nursing school. 

Mary Ellen was the first in the family to receive a degree, and proudly held her RN status for her lifetime.  She was fast and efficient in the UW Hospital ER and later was a skilled psychiatric nurse at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, CA.  After her retirement from El Camino, she managed the healthcare of the retired priests of Mary Knoll in Los Altos, CA.

Even with her many and far-reaching nursing accomplishments, during this same time, as busy as she was, she was also the business owner of Travel Design in Mountain View and traveled the world multiple times over.  These trips collected new friends and adventures on her resume, and she was a skilled artist from childhood into adulthood.

Mary Ellen was always ready for an adventure and held our hands to take us along.  Family meals, cooking and making the warmest environment was not only the goal, but the result of her efforts.

She was preceded in death by her parents and older sister, Loretta Alberts, and dear friend, Randy Robinson.

She is survived by:  her son Lee Bougneit (Kathy), in Chandler, AZ, and daughter, Lisa Rose (Norm) in San Jose, CA; step-daughters, Amy Walden (Jim) in Madison, WI, and Cathy Nyren (Tom) in San Jose, CA; grandchildren:  Preston Bougneit, Madison Bougneit, Campbell Rose, Parker Rose, Nora Walden and Erin Nyren; her sister:  Maggie Plath (Jim) in Florida; skiing partner nephew:  Brian Connelly (Sarah), in CO; fellow artichoke loving nephew:  Jeff Plath (Angel) in CO; and many nieces and nephews.

Interment of Cremated Remains: scattered at sea off the coast of Maui County, HI.

Published by Beddingfield Funeral Service - San Jose from April 21-22, 2022.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/mary-parkinson-obituary?id=34381312