Mary Hassouna Obituary

Mary "Mimi" Taylor Hassouna (1939–2025)

Mary Taylor Hassouna, known affectionately as "Mimi," passed away on November 19, 2025. Born on September 3, 1939, at St. Joseph Hospital in Denver, Colorado—a date she often noted was the very day England declared war on Germany—Mary lived a life that spanned the globe but was always anchored by her love for her home state.

Roots in the Rockies The eldest of seven daughters, Mary and her sisters were known to their parents as the "seven princesses." She grew up on Locust Street in a home filled with music, where she cherished a childhood spent outdoors, playing in the snow and exploring the "forest" of the open lots nearby. Although she dreamed of being a ballerina as a child, her path first led her to the convent as a Medical Mission Sister. This journey took her from California to the East Coast and instilled in her a discipline and appreciation for world cultures that would guide her life.

A Global Partnership Mary’s desire to "change the world" led her to the University of Pittsburgh, where she met Dr. Wafik Ashraf Hassouna. United by a shared passion for public health and development, they married in Denver in 1969. Mary’s life then expanded to encompass the globe. She arrived in Cairo on December 6, 1969, navigating profound culture shock to discover the beauty of the "land of the sun." Together, she and her husband dedicated their careers to public health, working to reduce infant mortality in Egypt through oral rehydration projects and community-based health solutions.

A Legacy of Service Describing herself as a "student of life," Mary’s career took her to Yemen, Sudan, Nigeria, and many other countries. She managed scholarship programs for girls affected by HIV/AIDS in Southern African schools in Swaziland and Botswana and deployed to Baghdad in 2003 to help monitor reconstruction efforts during the war. Throughout her travels, she remained dedicated to connecting with people in difficult circumstances, a vocation she found deeply rewarding.

Return to the Mountains Despite her travels to the banks of the Nile and the deserts of the Middle East, Mary’s true heart home remained in Colorado. She spoke fondly of her work for the Colorado state government on long-term care policy and, in times of crisis, returned to the safety and familiarity of Denver. Her favorite place in the world remained the Colorado Rockies and Rocky Mountain National Park, a love rooted in those early days of wild asparagus and winter forts under the Denver sky.

A Life of Connection Mary believed that "most people in the world are good," a truth she found confirmed in every country she served. Yet, she maintained that her most important career was being a mother to her son, Seena, whom she called her "star".

Mary spent the last approximately 20 years in Littleton Colorado spending time with her family and friends. She is survived by her son, Seena Hassouna; her grandchildren, Mena and Ramzi; and her sisters, Anne and Rae. She will also be fondly remembered by her many nieces, nephews, and extended family in Denver and Cairo, as well as by the close community of friends and work colleagues she made around the world—especially the expatriate families in Cairo who remained dear to her heart.