Mary Ellen (Kimminau) Albanesi

Mary Ellen (Kimminau) Albanesi, Lieutenant Colonel
May 22, 1934 – August 23, 2018

Mary Ellen (Kimminau) Albanesi passed peacefully on August 23, 2018 while under hospice care at home. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She enjoyed traveling, cooking, playing bridge, needlepoint, and reading. Mary was a pioneer in the early 1970s as the first woman in the US Army to have a child and remain on active duty in military service.

Mary was born in Nashville, Kansas on May 22, 1934 to William (Bill) Kimminau and Catherine (Clouse) Kimminau. She graduated from Kingman High School, Kingman, KS; St. Francis School of Nursing, Wichita, KS; and the University of St. Francis, Joliet, Il.

She entered the Army Nurse Corps after graduation. Her assignments took her throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia, including service in the Vietnam War. Mary met her husband Arthur, also a Lieutenant Colonel, at Ft. Gordon Georgia and they were married at Clark Summit, PA. Her final assignment was at Fort Carson where she settled with her family in nearby Colorado Springs. She was awarded numerous medals and decorations for her service.

Mary was a long-time parishioner at St. Paul Catholic Church and volunteered for many of the church functions and ministries. She volunteered for many years at Hospice, American Heart Association, Pauline Memorial School, Westside Cares, The Assistance League and with the Sisters of Charity.

Her husband, Arthur, sister, Doris Conrardy, and her parents preceded her in death.  She is survived by her son, Arturo; daughter-in-law, Heather; three grandchildren—Catherine, Mollie, and Robert; sisters—Alice Henning, Joan Kanngiessser, and Marie Taylor; brothers–Bob Kimminau, Jack Kimminau, and Raymond Kimminau; and many nieces and nephews.

The Albanesi family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to all our family, friends and the staff of her VA Home Based Primary Care team, Pikes Peak Hospice, and her caregivers from Complete Home Healthcare for the support and care they showed Mary during the last months of her life.

A visitation will be held from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 30, 2018 with a Rosary at 6:30 p.m. all at St. Paul Catholic Church, 9 El Pomar Road. A funeral mass will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 31, 2018 at St. Paul Catholic Church. Entombment will follow at Shrine of Remembrance Gate of Heaven Mausoleum with military honors. A celebration of Mary’s life and reception will follow back at the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary’s memory can be made to the CU Foundation for the UCCS Albanesi Endowed Scholarship Fund; UCCS Office of Advancement/Development; 1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway, Colorado Springs 80918.