Nov. 16, 1939 – Aug. 25, 2026

Mary Loretta Batenhorst, age 86, passed away peacefully on Aug. 25 after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease, compounded by a stroke.

Mary was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Nov. 16, 1939 to parents Maheba and Albert Nassif. Mary was the second oldest of 10 children. She learned responsibility from a young age, helping care for her younger siblings and the many chores involved with such a large family.  

Mary attended Catholic school and graduated from Immaculate Conception in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1958. After graduating from high school she attended nursing school; however, upon passing out at the sight of blood, she decided this career was not for her. 

Mary worked for Collins Radio in Cedar Rapids where she met the love of her life Duane Batenhorst. They married in Cedar Rapids on March 3, 1962.   

Duane took a job in Denver Colorado where they welcomed their first child Beth, who was born on Dec. 13, 1962. They wasted no time and their second daughter – Tammy – arrived in 1963. The family moved to California in 1967 when Duane took a job at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the LA area. They purchased a home in La Crescenta where they lived happily for almost 60 years.  

Mary was a full-time mother and wife. In addition, since she was good with numbers, she worked during the tax season at a local tax firm. She kept busy tending the house and family and spending time with her large family and close friends. Mary earned an associate’s degree in bookkeeping at Glendale college in 1983 and she continued to work during the tax season for many years.   

Duane and Mary frequently hosted their large family at their house and enjoyed being tour guides for out-of-town guests. They had many wonderful times with close friends at pool parties and playing cards, while the kids played; they also loved to dance. Each year they made the cross-county trip to visit family in Iowa and Nebraska – they traveled to many national parks along the way.  They also were faithful Catholics throughout their lives and attended and volunteered regularly.

Upon retirement, Duane and Mary enjoyed traveling the U.S. and the world – volunteering, being involved at church, attending the theater and concerts, spending time with friends and family; they rarely missed their weekly card games with their lifelong friends.  Their three grandchildren brought them so much joy – they saw them frequently and attended as many school/sporting events as they could.  

Mary will be missed by her family and friends who will always remember her kind nature, small but mighty frame, easy laugh, devotion to family and friends and her ability to talk to anyone.   Mary is survived by daughters Beth Nido (Mike) and Tammy Miller (Scott); grandchildren Megan (Josh), Michelle (Alek) and Cameron, great grandchildren Harper and Hudson, brother Doug (Regina), sisters Jean (Tom), Shirley (Phil) and Chris (Casey).

Memorial gifts can be made to: Alzheimer’s Association or Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.