Molly Paris

Mary Ann Paris, formerly of Toronto, Ohio, passed away Sunday, September 26th, suddenly in a tragic car accident. She was coming back from a day of biking with her sister and brother-in-law, living her life to the fullest, as we all should.

Molly, as most called her, was born February 27, 1947, in Weirton, West Virginia, the daughter of Peggy (Ethel) Lengyel and Andrew Lengyel.

She was the fiercely loving mother of her four children, Claire Paris, Bill Paris, Heather (James Sendecke) Paris, and Andy (Stephenie) Paris, all of Portland, OR, and grandmother to Andrew, Sam, Ryder, Peyton, Iamme, Victor, Ellie, and Penny. She is also survived by her siblings, Andrea (Lou) Settimio, John (Connie) Lengyel, Phil (Rose) Lengyel, Margaret (Terry) Olbrysh, Judy (Stan) Clegg, Lisa (Tom) Wiegand, and Felicia (Dan) Wassum. She worked tirelessly to keep her family and loved ones together and in contact no matter the difficulty.

Molly got her master's in teaching and taught elementary and middle school sporadically throughout her life. Her love of teaching spilled into all areas of her life, as she taught her children and grandchildren to bake, taught her daughters a career in real estate, taught her sons the meaning of hard work, taught herself how to paint, taught us all how to live and love. She found great joy in preparing and sharing family meals and was rarely satisfied with her food, though anyone who ate with her knows she was an incredible chef.

Many of life’s simple pleasures brought Molly great joy. Playing a game of cards with family, going on a hike in the woods, working on a construction site with her sons, baking, and laughing with her grandchildren would all bring on her uncanny ability to live in the moment.

Molly was intensely independent; living on her own for nearly 15 years, having designed and remodeled her home and many others herself. She gave all of herself to her family, friends, and the planet, only holding back what she thought was not constructive. She started recycling in the late 1980’s in Arizona and continued to do everything she could for her entire life to affect change for a better planet and future for all.

Molly and Bill (her deceased husband) moved to Arizona, and spent 18 years there, building their professional careers and strong bonds with families from her children’s school.

Molly loved to chat with you; she loved to learn about anyone who would answer her probing questions. People were drawn to her and opened up to her in remarkable ways. She was intensely curious.

Molly had a quick wit; she loved to burst into song and dance given any chance. She was mischievous; she often wrapped gifts and added rocks or pieces of lumber, to throw off the guesses of the recipient and joyously laughed as the recipient opened it.

A memorial gathering will be held at the Toland-Herzig Monarch Center, 831 Boulevard Dover, Ohio, from 11-12 pm. At 12:00 pm, the family will have a time of sharing followed by a meal and fellowship. The Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory in Dover are handling the arrangements. To sign an online guestbook for Molly, visit the obituary link on the funeral home’s website.

Instead of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to https://www.opalcreek.org/support/donate/.