Mary W. Mooney

Mary W. Mooney, affectionately known to everyone as Mimi, passed peacefully on Monday, July 27, 2026, in Houston, Texas. Born on November 23, 1934, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Louis and Mary Walsh, she lived a life defined by faith, devotion to family, compassion for others, and a joyful spirit that drew people close. Mimi attended Carnegie Mellon University, where she pursued a degree in design and was a member of the Chi Omega sorority. In 1956, she married Francis Xavier "Frank" Mooney in Pittsburgh. With whom this year, they would have celebrated 70 years of marriage. Their life together first took them to Queens, New York, and then, in 1960, to Odessa, Texas, where they built their home and raised their four children. With four children ranging in age from infancy to ten years old, and Frank traveling part of the time for his sales career, Mimi became the steady and loving center of a very active household. She managed school schedules, sporting events, family responsibilities, and church activities with energy and grace. Her children knew her as a deeply dedicated mother whose care was constant and whose faith shaped the rhythm of family life. That faith was central to who Mimi was. At St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Odessa, she served for many years as president of the parish’s Legion of Mary, a ministry devoted to prayer, devotion to the Blessed Mother, and active service within the community. She also worked at Parks Senior Living in Odessa, where her gentle manner, warmth, and compassion brought comfort to the residents she served. Mimi had a gift for making family life feel celebratory. She delighted in preparing holiday meals and gatherings that brought together relatives and close friends. She and Frank also began a memory-filled tradition of annual trips to Port Aransas with the Emerson family, combining their love of family with their love of the beach and sea. That tradition has endured across generations and continues through the children and grandchildren of both families. After nearly 60 years in Odessa and following Frank’s passing, Mimi moved to Houston to live with her daughter Karen and husband Bob. Although her surroundings changed, her ability to maintain and form meaningful connections did not. She continued to offer spiritual insight, encouragement, and genuine guidance to family members and everyone around her. The remarkable number of phone calls and text messages, especially from the grandkids, which she made and received, was a testament to how deeply involved she remained in the lives of others and how profoundly she was loved in return. In Houston, Mimi remained active at Holy Rosary Catholic Church and with organizations including the John Paul II Foundation. She was especially cherished by her Rosary Group, whose members and priests were continually uplifted by her faith, positive outlook, quick wit, and infectious laugh. One of Karen’s close friend’s confidence was so inspired and encouraged by Mimi’s thoughts and guidance that she was able to overcome her self-doubts and accept the president position of a local chapter of the Legion of Mary. Just days before her passing, Mimi experienced the grace of a physical rally that allowed her to receive Holy Communion and spend precious time with all four of her children and their spouses. Her final words expressed the faith and love that had guided her life: "God has blessed us with a wonderful and loving family. He also assured me that He would take care of everyone." To those who knew her, Mimi was more than a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend. She was recognized as a truly holy person - someone whose faith was lived openly, whose love was generous, and whose presence brought reassurance, joy, and peace. Mimi was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Francis Xavier Mooney; her parents, Louis V. Walsh II and Mary Walsh; her sister, Cathryn Vetteral, and her husband, John; her sister-in-law, Mary Kay Walsh; and her grandson, Joshua Paul Parkinson. She is lovingly remembered by her family, her four children and their families. Her son Francis Xavier Mooney and his wife, Sandy, survive her, along with their daughter, Miriam Martin, and her husband, Austin; and Mimi’s great-grandchildren, Lorelei Mae Martin and Sebastian Xavier Martin. She is also survived by her daughter Kathy McNeil and her husband, Gary; their children, Elizabeth Arnold and her husband, Doug, Matthew Parkinson, Carie McNeil, Scott McNeil and his wife, Cheyenne, Jamie Self and her husband, Casey, and Taylar McNeil and her husband, Aaron Bryant; and Mimi’s great-grandchildren, Eleanor Noel Arnold, Jackson McNeil, Hayden McNeil, Tori Stewart, and Caleb Franklin. Mimi is further survived by her daughter Karen Mooney Nimon and her husband, Bob; their daughters, Emily Nimon and Martha Fay and her husband, Michael; and Mimi’s great-grandchildren, Felix Fay and Arlo Fay. She is also survived by her son James Mooney and his wife, Monica; their daughters, Taryn Homfeld and her husband, Nick, and Ashli Olivas and her husband, Adrian; and Mimi’s great-grandchildren, Braylee Homfeld, Bronson Homfeld, Joshua Olivas, and Isabelle Olivas. Mimi is additionally survived by her brother Louis V. Walsh III and his family; the family of her sister Cathryn; and her brother Dan Walsh, his wife, Peggy, and their family. Her faith was steadfast, her love was generous, and her family was her greatest joy. Service Details • Mass of the Resurrection Date: Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at 1:00 PM with a pre-service Rosary at 12:30 PM Location: St. Mary’s Catholic Church 612 E. 18th St., Odessa, TX 79761 • Mass of Remembrance Date: TBD later in the month of August Location: Holy Rosary Catholic Church 3617 Milam, St. Houston, TX 77002 In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to either St. Mary’s Central Catholic School in Odessa, Texas https://smccsodessa.org/ or the John Paul II Foundation in Houston, Texas https://forlifeandfamily.org/#

Mary W. Mooney

November 23, 1934 - July 27, 2026