Well known Alamosa resident Mariann Virginia Dunne, 74, passed away peacefully at her home in Alamosa, surrounded by her family and under hospice care.

Mariann’s life began in Sioux City, Iowa on February 4, 1942, the proud daughter of Robert E. and Wanda Bremer Dillon. She married Noel Dunne in 1979 and they have enjoyed more than 36 years together.

Mariann spent the vast majority of her life in helping others. Her work began early on with missionary work in Bolivia, Chile and Peru. She began work for the poor as a sister of Mercy and taught school in Kansas City, Missouri and Joplin, Missouri. She received permission to work in the Missionary of the Maryknoll Sisters in Bolivia. She and Noel then married and traveled to Peru for work there. She later served as the Secretary of the Mission of Columbia through the Denver Catholic Diocese. After moving to the San Luis Valley, she served in the Campus Ministry at Adams State College and was the leader and Pastoral Assistant at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Alamosa. Mariann was elected County Commissioner and has served the County of Alamosa for the past three years.

Mariann was one of the founding members of the SLV Immigrant Resource Center in Alamosa and assisted many Mayan, Guatemalan and Mexican immigrants with obtaining citizenship. Others were always first with Mariann, her life’s work was in assistance to other people.

In her spare time, she enjoyed her flowers and spent an hour every day in prayer.

Mariann is survived by her husband Noel Dunne of Alamosa; her daughter Wanda (Marvin) Sanchez of Pueblo, CO; her grandchildren Analysia and Timothy Bosse and Mari Lopez-Quintana; her sisters Diane Liddle of Omaha, NE and Margaret Whitmore of Omaha, Nebraska; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and a host of loving friends throughout many communities.

She is preceded in death by her parents.

A visitation will be held at the Rogers Family Mortuary in Alamosa on Thursday, July 28, 2016 from 1:00-5:00 p.m., followed by a Vigil with Recitation of the Rosary 7:00 p.m. Thursday evening, July 28th at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 a.m. Friday, July 29, 2016 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Alamosa. Committal services will follow the Funeral Mass at the Alamosa Cemetery. Contributions may be given to the Dunne family.

Rogers Family Mortuary of Alamosa is in care of the arrangements. Online condolences, remarks and tributes for Mariann’s family may be left by visiting her obituary at www.RogersFunerals.com

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