Mary Jeanne Cahill

Mary Jeanne Cahill, 67, of Long Beach, CA, passed away on December 28, 2024 after a long battle with cancer.

Mary was born on December 3, 1957 to Leo James and Jeanne Lucy (McLees) Cahill in Columbus, NE. After Mary graduated from Saint Edward public high school in 1976, she went on to study at Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, NE.

After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Education, she started her first job as a Kindergarten Teacher in Arapahoe, NE, and soon became a School Counselor, kickstarting a 39 year career in Education. In addition, she received her Master’s degree from University of Kearney, Nebraska. She moved to California in 1986 and worked at multiple schools in Long Beach, CA. 

In April 1998, Mary adopted her daughter Molly Jeanne Xiaopan Cahill from Jiangmen, China. 

In June 2019, Mary retired and spent her time knitting, sewing, baking, quilting, singing & traveling.

Mary was predeceased by; her parents, Leo & Jeanne (McLees) Cahill; siblings, Michael; Kent; Terri Carlston; Margaret (Dill); and Sheila Cahill. She is survived by; her daughter, Molly Cahill of Bellevue, WA; brother, Tim Cahill of St. Edward, NE; 6 nieces/nephews: Amanda (Alf) Nathan of Wales; Alycia Carlston of Lincoln, NE; Jesse Dill and Michelle (Taylor) May of Imperial, NE; Cody Cahill of Deshler, NE; Cammie (Travis) Freitag of Carleton, NE; 14 great-nieces & nephews: Ashlyn Jones of Lincoln, NE; Kolt Majors, Tatum May, Maura May, Millianna May, Trennin May, and Maely May all of Imperial, NE; Lucie Carlston of Lincoln, NE; Ansley and Ellie Cahill of Deshler, NE; Kypton, Huxton, Kaynen, and Brixton Freitag of Carleton, NE; godson: Curt Barnes of Thailand. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to StandUpToCancer so that others may win their battle moving forward.