Mary B. Bicknell

Cardinal Services is sad to announce the passing of a long-time, beloved member of the Cardinal Family. Mary Bicknell, 77, passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, November 29.

Before retiring, Mary worked in Cardinal’s CCI Manufacturing plant, assembling parts and earning a paycheck. Upon retirement, Mary continued coming to Cardinal each weekday to participate in the Day Services program, including spending time in the RedBird Art Studio where she liked to do beading. Over the years, Mary lived in different Cardinal group homes, always lending her own unique and vibrant brand of fun and humor to life in the home.

Although she was not able to speak more than a few words, Mary had little trouble communicating with those around her. One staff member recalls that Mary had a practice of naming people using some attribute that described them, and then using her own sign for their name. Long-time staff, Jodi Howe, remembers, “I had a spiral perm when she met me so, no matter what my hair looked like over the years, she would always make wavy lines with her fingers and move her hands down. That was my name.”

It is perhaps appropriate that Mary should pass over the holidays because she absolutely loved Christmas time! As Cardinal Elf gifts would accumulate in the front offices, Mary could be heard walking through looking at the packages and humming her “ho-ho-ho.” All December long she’d say ho-ho-ho and make her sign for Santa which was stroking a beard, ringing bells and presents.

Mary’s former residential manager, Amy Bricker, shared that her favorite memory of Mary will always be the first Christmas she worked with her. “I worked the overnight on Christmas, and Mary was so excited she couldn’t sleep at all. All night I heard her saying Ho, Ho, Ho! I’d go in to check on her and she’d be lying in bed making the sign for presents. I told her, Mary, Santa can’t come unless you are sleeping. She did this until finally falling asleep around 5a.m. Later, when all the other ladies got up and were ready for presents, we couldn’t wake Mary up! She was so excited she wore herself out!”

Anyone who knew Mary, knew her regular fast food order was always: 2 hamburgers, fries, pop and ice cream. Says one staff: “I hope her heaven has an unlimited supply of these things, where calories don’t count, she has plenty of cats to play with, and its Christmas all the time.”

Mary will be dearly and sincerely missed. She made a strong, positive impact on the lives of the many people who worked and lived with her over the years. She was truly one of a kind.

Mary's life will be celebrated in a graveside service at Oakwood Cemetery on Friday, December 4, 2020 at 11:30 a.m. Those wishing to attend may gather inside the cemetery gates at 11:15. Titus Funeral Home is assisting the family.