Marjorie Ann Rooney

Marjorie Ann Rooney (Margie) was born and raised in Chicago, Il the youngest of 4 children. She was a devoted daughter, loving sister, friend to many and the most amazing aunt to many nieces and nephews. Margie was raised in a close-knit community, attended Catholic schools, and maintained many of her earliest friendships throughout her life. 

Margie bravely and boldly took on the challenge of several different careers throughout her life. She graduated from Clarke College in Dubuque, Iowa and initially worked as a Physical Therapist focused on caring for children with cerebral palsy. Her tender heart found that role difficult to sustain due to the emotional challenges involved. While her focus on working with children remained, she turned to doing so in an educational setting and became an Elementary School Teacher. She was a natural teacher bringing her energy, creativity and sense of fun to the classroom! Her dogs were popular and frequent visitors to her class over the years and her students went on the best field trips. After many years of teaching and ready for another change, Margie took on the challenge of School Librarian. This too came easily to her as an avid lover and reader of books. She helped instill the love of learning and reading in many children over the years! Not yet done re-inventing herself, Margie got out of education altogether and became a Travel Agent. Her passion for travel and adventure was a lifelong love of hers so it made perfect sense that she help others experience the same joy and happiness that she got from exploring new places and cultures. Margie embraced each of these careers with enthusiasm and dedication.

Margie had a sense of adventure and perhaps blazed some trails ahead of her time by moving away from family to live in new states and forge her own path. She did not hesitate to “try on” a new career or travel to places and countries of interest. Her friends quickly became family, and she adopted many a lucky dog over her lifetime. Did they ever live good lives!! She was an exemplary “dog mom” and loved some faces only a mom could love.

Margie had many interests that included hiking, skiing and other mountain pursuits back in the day. She was an avid game player all her life. Rummikub anyone? She loved working a good crossword puzzle, jigsaw puzzles not so much but she did complete one and even framed it not that long ago. It depicted dogs as Bronco fans, two of her favorite things. Margie pursued learning as much as she could about her family genealogy including visiting Ireland. She was also a bit of a history buff spurred on by her father’s service during the war. That interest took her to Europe to visit the very places noted in the diary he kept. Margie could not resist exploring an interesting cemetery. As she said, there is so much to learn there! She even served as a volunteer at one near her home. Margie remained a devout active Catholic throughout her life and participated in her local parish. 

 We would be remise if we did not mention that Margie was an avid Denver Broncos fan. She was a season ticket holder for many years. She could talk football!! We knew NOT to call her during a game. She adored her Broncos, proudly wore her blue and orange, and even had a Broncos lamp. She was a fan for sure.

Her many nieces and nephews will remember their Aunt Margie as the “cool fun” aunt. She had a cabin in the Rocky Mountains and drove a jeep. She would take you on crazy scary jeep trails as long as you promised not to tell your mother. She loved her outdoor hikes and adventures accompanied by family, friends or just a bandana wearing dog. There were camping trips, cross country driving trips, solo trips to spend time with her in her beloved Denver, CO, and visits for holidays to our family homes. Margie had a big personality and somehow knew a song for every town or state you visited. She loved to sing and did so loud and proud. Did you know she had a player piano?! She could and would, talk to anybody about most anything. She impressed us, inspired us, and yes, occasionally embarrassed us too. 

 Margie, without question, was one in a million. She was fearless, independent, and lived life her way and to the fullest. She will be forever remembered and deeply missed. Heaven just got a “goody”. 

 In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made in Margie’s memory to any of Margie’s favorite charities: 

• ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION - Alzheimer's Association
• (EIN: 13-3039601) located at 225 North Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, Illinois 60601.
• ST. JUDE CHILDREN’S RESEARCH HOSPITAL - St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
• (EIN: 62-0646012) located at 7800 E. Orchard Road, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111.
• DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS USA, INC. -Doctors Without Borders
• (EIN: 13 3433452) located at PO Box 5030, Hagerstown, Maryland 21741. 
• MAXFUND ANIMAL ADOPTION CENTER - MaxFund
• (EIN: 84 1116882) located at 958 Inca Street, Denver, Colorado 80204. 
• AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUENTLY TO ANIMALS - ASPCA
• (EIN: 13-1623829) located at 520 8th Avenue, New York, New York 10018. 
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A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated December 5th, 2024 at 11:00am at Horan & McConaty Funeral Service & Cremation; 1091 S. Colorado Blvd. Denver, CO 80246