Minnetonka, MN - After a year-long battle with cancer, Mary Carver died peacefully in Minneapolis on Jan. 10.

Mary was born Mary Rose Gallagher on Aug. 14, 1940 in New York City to James and Julia Gallagher. As the first child, she was the pride of her parents, particularly her father. An aunt nicknamed her Toots when she was an infant, and that remained the name that her family used throughout her life.

Mary was raised in working-class neighborhoods in the Bronx. She was an excellent student. She was educated in Catholic schools, graduating from Ursuline Academy and the College of New Rochelle.

Her interest in science led her to focus her studies in biology. At a time when women weren't generally welcome in scientific positions, she worked as a cytologist with leading cancer researchers at the University of Maine, Maine Medical Center and Sloane Kettering Institute in New York City.

After marrying her first husband, George Carver, Mary stepped away her career to raise her children, daughter Julie and son James. The family moved around as George's career took him to new places: Massena, NY; Burlington, MA; Nottingham, NH and Washington, PA. Of the many places that the family lived, the home in Nottingham, a 200-year-old house on 10 acres, held a special place for Mary. The home allowed her to enjoy her love of gardening. She became a skilled canner and preserver, a talent that she employed in recent years as she helped her daughter in her own garden.

While in Nottingham, Mary returned to work, becoming a teacher, a profession that she enjoyed. Drawing on her experience in the lab, she became an elementary science teacher in Deerfield, N.H. When the family relocated, she continued her service to students in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, as teacher and principal in Burgettstown, Washington, Monongahela and ultimately Madonna Catholic Regional School.

Everywhere she lived, Mary acquired friends, with friendships continuing for years and decades. People who met her were charmed by her conversation and her good taste.

After divorcing George, Mary moved to Cincinnati, where she finished her career in the Diocese of Cincinnati serving as the principal at St. Bartholomew's parish school. She retired from that position in 2007 and moved to Minnesota to be close to her children and grandchildren.

Within two years of moving, Mary met Bob Jensen through an online dating service. They immediately hit it off, becoming inseparable. As a couple, they complemented each other perfectly, and her relationship with Bob was a great joy of her senior years. Bob proposed to Mary in 2020, and they formalized their love for each other in a ceremony on a snowy day that October.

Family was very important to Mary. She celebrated the achievements of her children and grandchildren, and she supported her children through their own journeys. Her family history was a particular interest to her, and she could always be counted on to recall some fanciful stories from decades ago.

From her childhood to the end of her life, Mary's Catholic faith was an integral part of her life. In her retirement, she was a member and Eucharist minister at St. Odilia's Catholic Church. She was a member of St. Joseph's parish at the time of her death.

Mary accepted her final illness with grace. She was stoic in the face of discomfort and was grateful for the extra time with family that her treatment granted her. She and her family are full of gratitude for the team of physicians, nurses and staff at Fairview-University of Minnesota East Bank who cared for her over the last year.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents and by George Carver. She is survived by her husband Robert Jensen; children Julie Carver (Minnetonka) and Jim Carver (Maple Grove); siblings Florence Somereve; James Gallagher; and John Gallagher and husband Michael Bitterman. She is also survived by James' children, Patrick, Emily, Megan and Sean; and Julie's children, DeeAras and Marcus.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Ursulines of the Eastern Province - A Mission of Service. A Vision for Change. (osueast.org) to defray the cost of taking care of our elderly Sisters who have dedicated their lives to serving God's people.