Mary Kathleen Alfano, 91, beloved mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully in her sleep Oct. 3rd, at NVH with her son at her side.

Mary had a true pioneering spirit, love of farm life and horses.

She was born November 29, 1921 to Aton Felix and Anna Marie Loser in Havre, Montana while he was an employee of the Great Northern Railroad. She was the only daughter of six children.

Mary was a graduate of Havre High School and excelled in handwriting and accounting. Her family later moved to the Glacier Park area with her father employment but they returned to Havre and Aton died there in 1941. Her mom Anna Marie preceded her in death in 1972 and her brothers have now all gone on to their rest.

Mary married Francis Peter Alfano on Aug. 14th, 1954 in Great Falls, Montana and they started their lives together with Frank serving with U.S. Customs Service along the U. S.- Canadian border. Soon they started their family. They both enjoyed horses and established Chief Mountain Arabians while at the Port of Piegan, Montana in the late 1960’s.

The Alfano’s moved to our current family residence down on the river, south of Oroville in 1970. Mary enjoyed being a housewife and mother to her three children Mary, Stephen and John. She liked the warmer winters and beautiful Okanogan Valley summers with the wildlife and trees down by the river. For over 40 years she raised horses and a wide variety of livestock and pets. She made her home there among her wonderful neighbors.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband Francis in 1989 and son Stephen. She is survived by her daughter Mary Francis of the Spokane Valley and son John of Oroville. Four grand children Alex J. White of El Paso TX., Jessica M. Richardson of Oroville, WA., P. J. Richardson of Wenatchee, WA., and Ricky Stembaugh of Atlanta, TX. Also four great grandchildren – Baylee Richardson of Omak, Michael Griffith Richardson of Wenatchee, Valyn Richardson of Wenatchee and Logan Chase Stembaugh of Texas.

We love and miss her very much!

A Rosary service will be held at Immaculate Conception Parish at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 17. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19th, reception to follow and interment in Oroville Cemetery in the afternoon.

Bergh Funeral Service of Oroville/Tonasket in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, Mom would have appreciated a gift to a horse rescue organization. Mom was a cancer survivor and suffered from heart disease later in life, so a gift to help other would be a blessing.