Mary Catherine Selecky, of Colville, Washington, passed away on April 7, 2025. Mary devoted her life to family, community, and public health, and she leaves an indelible legacy on all three.

Mary was born in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania on April 2, 1947, to Paul R. Selecky and Helen M. Jurchak Selecky. She grew up in Glen Lyon, Pennsylvania as the middle of seven children. From an early age, Mary's parents strongly encouraged service to church and community. At church, Mary was an active member of the Children of Mary organization and sang in the All-Girls Choir; she was a beloved member of Club Seven and she participated in various charity drives including the American Red Cross, March of Dimes and St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Mary graduated with Honors from Newport Township High School in 1965.  She was head Cheerleader and co-editor of her yearbook. Her high school yearbook described her as "enthusiastic, chatty and versatile."

Mary graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and history. She then served as Director of Housing at Sarah Lawrence College and later as the Assistant to the Dean of Women at the University of Pennsylvania.

Mary headed West in 1973 with a sense of wanderlust and found her home of 50 years in northeastern Washington. Mary purchased property in Park Rapids near Colville and spent her first night there in a tent on May 21, 1975. She deeply loved her rural mountain home and her Colville family and community.

Mary served as Secretary of Health for the state of Washington from 1999 to 2013 for Governors Gary Locke, Christine Gregoire, and Jay Inslee. Mary's passion for public health began at Tri-County Health in Colville where she served Ferry, Pend Oreille, and Stevens counties. Of her many achievements, Mary served on the Providence Mission Board, the Tri-County Board of Health, the Empire Health Foundation Board, Colville Rotary Club, the American Association of University Women, NEW Hunger Coalition, and the National Association of City and County Health Officials. She was an alum and former president of the American Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, and she served as former president of the Washington State Association of Local Public Health Officials. She was a clinical professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Washington and was a notable advisor to Indiana State University and Fairbanks School of Public Health. Mary received numerous awards including the American Medical Association's Nathan Davis Award for Outstanding Government Service, Indiana University's Bicentennial Medal, and the Joe Hopkins Memorial Award from the Washington State Hospital Association. She volunteered her time to countless community causes.

Mary left a lasting impact through her work in public health. She helped create the Washington State Department of Health, reduce smoking rates, increase vaccination rates, improve disaster response preparedness, strengthen state-tribal partnerships in public health, and give a strong voice to rural public health. Mary taught us all to live and love fully, to prioritize relationships, and to serve our communities. She found connection with everyone, regardless of age or background. She was always there for those special occasions and reminded us to always celebrate life's joys, from the blooming lilacs to the midnight moon to the warmth of a loving hug. She truly lived by the wisdom, "if not you, then who?" and sought every day to make the world a better place for all of us.

Mary is preceded in death by her father the Honorable Paul R. Selecky, her mother Helen M. Jurchak Selecky, her brothers Paul Selecky and Tommy Selecky, and her mentor Dr. Ed Gray.  Mary is survived by her sisters Juliana Semple and Heidi Jarecki, her brothers John Selecky and Peter Selecky, many nephews, nieces and cousins, her Colville family including the Janke family, her public health family, and countless friends. She was a friend, mentor, leader to many, and a godmother to many of the children (some who are now adults) in her life.

Mary's life will be celebrated at a Mass on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at 11:00 am at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 320 N. Maple Street, Colville, Washington. A celebration of life will follow at the Ag-Trade Center, 317 W. Astor, Colville, WA.  Details can be found at https://www.danekasfuneralchapel.com/. In lieu of flowers, please donate in her memory to the Providence Foundation to be invested in Stevens County for Rural Healthcare (https://give.providence.org/inw/donate-now), the N.E.W. Hunger Coalition (https://newhungercoalition.org/donate/), the American Association of University Women (https://my.aauw.org/donation-product-detail), or the Rotary Foundation (https://my.rotary.org/en/donate). And please, wash your hands!

If you have a photo of Mary that you would like to share at her celebration of life, please email the photo to Amber Janke at amberjanke@gmail.com, and include the names of folks in the photos, where the photo was taken and/or brief context, and month/year. Thank you!

If you would like to join our Zoom of Mary's celebration of life please follow the link and enter the code:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81918959088?pwd=vLa928xQ3D4bk0x5suMb9dFuS88ZSe.1

Meeting ID: 819 1895 9088

Passcode: 123456