Mary Fisken’s high school senior portrait. (Photos courtesy John Fisken)
John Fisken checks out his new baby sister.
The Fisken children, dad John L. and mom Marilyn gather right before John’s high school graduation.
Mary with her beloved Golden Retrievers, Juliet (left) and Fable.
Fable comforts her mom during her final days.
She was a fighter, until the very end.
Mary Elizabeth Fisken, 53, younger sister and only sibling of local photographer John Fisken, who provides Coupeville Sports with most of its pics, passed away Tuesday morning after a decade-plus battle with breast cancer.
A former Certified Nursing Aide, she spent her final days in the Richmond Beach Rehab in Shoreline, where she had worked for 15 years, surrounded by family, friends and former co-workers.
I met her near the end of her fight with cancer, when she attended a Coupeville High School volleyball match at which Wolf players dyed her brother’s hair pink in support of Mary’s courage.
The Wolves are dedicating their home match Oct. 18 against Klahowya to Mary’s memory, and will re-dye her brother’s hair and beard pink that night.
Mary was born July 16, 1963 in Seattle, the second child of John L. and Marilyn Dell (Lee) Fisken, and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1981, a year after her brother.
Her greatest joy in life came from the time she spent with the many pets who entered her life over the years.
An avid pet owner, she was fond of always having dogs in the home.
The first which she could claim as truly “hers” was an Irish Setter named Sophie.
Later she took in a purebred Golden Retriever, Juliet, and kept one of her children, a puppy she named Fable.
They were both deeply loved during their time with Mary.
When she wasn’t working or caring for her dogs, Mary enjoyed making bead and stained glass art and working on jigsaw puzzles.
Ten years ago, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and she jumped into a long and brave fight with the disease, refusing to bend to its will.
Mary completed 10 three-day cancer walks, which she hailed as her “greatest accomplishment,” and volunteered at countless others.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her father passing May 15, 2008 and her mother this summer (Aug. 8, 2016).
Mary is survived by her brother John, his wife Diane, her niece Kathryn (Fisken) Sooter (and husband Erik) and nephew Michael.
Also surviving are her cousin Nellie Scoular, who she was very close to, three uncles, Robert Jr., Brainard and Roger Lee and her beloved Golden Retriever Fable.
Memorial services are 2 PM, Saturday, Oct. 1 at Richmond Beach Rehab in Shoreline. All are welcome.
