Mary Susan Hoagland
Mary S. Hoagland
Surrounded by her loving family, Mary Hoagland died peacefully at home on October 22. Just shy of her 64th birthday, she had spent the last 23 months with ALS. In spite of the indignities of her disease, and previous hardships in her life, she always remained a strong, proud woman with a great sense of humor.
Mary was born and raised in Seattle and in 1980 graduated from WSU with a Communications degree, which provided her even more skill to deliver sarcastic comments and jokes. Upon graduation, she worked in Alaska cleaning fish and at a cannery in Ballard. Always trying to do good in the world, she joined the Peace Corps in 1983 and went to Liberia, Africa, where she met the love of her life, a fellow volunteer, Alex Kutsick. They married in 1986 and Mary actually wore a dress – one of only a few she ever wore. 
settled in to married life and bought their first home in Bothell while Mary worked at Mario’s Restaurant and Planned Parenthood. She obtained her Masters in Social Work from the UW in 1990 just prior to becoming a mother for the first time. Motherhood became her primary focus and she was a wonderful, nurturing mother to Molly and Lucas. When the kids were older, Mary returned to social work. But despite her best efforts, she was unable to save the world and retired in 2017 anyhow.
Mary was brilliant, funny, and genuine. She inherited a green thumb from her mother and loved gardening. She and Alex spent many hours not only at nurseries, but perusing antique shops and flea markets looking for the perfect yard art. She excelled at entertaining, making every person feel welcome at the many gatherings held at their Bothell home. She had a love affair with chocolate, coffee, and good wine. She had a core group of friends from work that she would do anything for. She loved them dearly. A true bibliophile, she read constantly – usually books about other cultures. She traveled extensively, visiting 5 continents and 40 countries, especially loving Thailand, Italy, Belize and Peru. She was so thankful she had the opportunity to visit Machu Picchu with the family a few months before her diagnosis in 2019. Equality, politics and world events were also a passion. She was still reading the New York Times and Washington Post just a few days before her passing – they have lost their most avid reader.
Mary is preceded in death by the mother she adored, Nancy, and her father Floyd, her sister Ann, her brother Tom, and her beloved sister Sally. She is survived by her soul mate Alex Kutsick, her wonderful children Molly and Lucas Kutsick, her loving siblings Catherine Hoagland and Nancy Hughes (Randy), as well as three nieces, four nephews and several grandnieces/nephews. She will also be greatly missed by her cousins and hundreds of friends that she made and kept throughout her life.
A celebration of her life will be held on her birthday, 11/11@11am at Holyrood Cemetery Chapel in Shoreline. The family asks that in honor of Mary, you read, vote and do good in the world like she did. You can also make remembrances to the NW chapter of ALS at www.webwa.alsa.org
11 Responses to “Mary Susan Hoagland”
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Mary was, and still is my hero, and the world is a much better place for her having been in it! BFF’s forever – love you Mary!!!
It has been such an honor to be friends with such an amazing woman! You will always hold a special place in my heart. Forever in my heart! ❤️I love you Mary!
Hoagland I still hear your laugh and it was usually at something dumb I did. Too many to count. We shared so many good times! We pledged Chi O together and had so much fun our freshman year. I’ll never forget you. When o think of you passing, my heart breaks. Then I hear you laughing at me. Oh hagerty … 😂 You always turned crisis into a good joke. You were at my side
always, too many to count. Or share in a public forum. Alex you are the man she deserved and I am so thankful she found you. Molly you are your moms beauty inside and out. Lucas you were your mom’s reason for living. You must be doing well other wise she would still be here. Please take this as a compliment. I was so happy to have run into your mom and dad in Anacortes at an art show right before Covid. She looked amazing and happy and that’s how i will remember her. She also gave me a hard time for not calling her . I know she forgives me. All we can do is make the world a better place and I would love to have a gathering next summer in Her honor. I know she would love a party.
And right now she’s laughing again at me and is saying it’s a little late. But anyone who knows Mary Knows she had a forgiving heart. ❤️ We are all doing the best we can. And I think we all agree that we could all do life just a little better. Party in peace Hoagland I love You 💕 Hagerty
God must have a special place in Heaven for someone like Mary who gave selflessly of herself her entire life. All who knew her loved her and her family. I will always remember her, but mostly as that cute little girl growing up in our neighborhood of fun and good times.
Love,
Betty Schultz
I did not have the pleasure of knowing Mary for as long as some of you, but the time God did allow our paths to cross, Mary was always kind to me. I was very sorry to hear of her passing. My heartfelt condolences to Mary’s Family.
Respectfully,
DanVonique Bletson-Reed
I have so many wonderful memories of the times spent with Mary. Getting to know her well while cooking at Camp Casey and through many years of our girls attending school together. These times together started a friendship group that was very special. My thoughts and prayers rare with you Alex, Molly and Lucas. I feel blessed to have known Mary.
Mary was so funny and a great case manger. I went out to assessments a couple of times with her when I was a new case manger and she told me to make sure I brought some coffee! just incase it got boring. I will miss you Mary.
I knew Alex for many years before he met Mary. The first time I met her I immediately realized how lucky they had been to find each other. My feelings were again confirmed by the all too few times we all met again – so compatible, so sympatico, so in love. Two beautiful people, so unselfish, with Molly and Lucas for beautiful children. Bless them all!
Mary was so wonderful. She always made me laugh, she was kind, she was intelligent. I was so grateful to spend some fun times with her, both in the office and out. I am so sorry to hear of her passing.
I worked with Mary for many years and she was always such a joy and a strong advocate for the clients we helped. Her sense of humor and big heart will always be remembered. My thoughts and prayers are with her family. It is a huge loss to the world, but it is comforting to know that Mary is at peace.
I met Mary as new, first time mothers, we shared so much of managing the transition to parenthood. She lived her life with determination, conviction and a wonderful sense of humor. I will miss knowing she is in this world.