Mary Demkowicz passed away at the age of 80 on July 15, 2026 in Park City, Utah surrounded by her loving family and friends. Mary was born on December 5, 1945 in Chicago, Illinois to Mildred and Frederick Freiberg. She spent most of her childhood in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1967 Mary received a B.A. degree in Foods and Nutrition from Fontbonne College in Saint Louis and the next year completed a dietetic internship at Fitzsimmons General Hospital in Denver. Her sense of adventure lead her to Munich Germany with the US Army from ’68 to ‘72, in which she worked as an Army Dietitian in the capacity of Food Service Director and achieved the rank of Captain. While stationed in Germany, she traveled, experienced European culture and learned to ski. After her military service, she moved to Chicago and worked as a Registered Dietitian.

In 1972 Mary met her husband John on a ski trip in Chamonix, France. John spoke French fluently, having been raised in France during his early childhood and was able to impress her and find the love of his life. Mary is a beautiful woman inside and out. Their story is romantic.

Mary and John lived in Chicago and traveled to Europe together. They got married May 15th, 1976 and decided to move out west to begin their next adventure together. They visited other ski towns, such as Steamboat and Jackson, but settled on Park City, Utah. In August of 1976, Mary and John moved to town, bought a building on Main Street and operated an ice cream and sandwich restaurant called Shenanigans and began their 50-year journey of marriage, business, family and community.

Mary would tell stories about the early days of Park City and how different it was financially. She said the stores in Salt Lake were reluctant to take her checks because she was from Park City. How times have changed?

In 1978, before her first child Michael was born and during his infancy, Mary Demkowicz worked as Assistant Director of the Dietary Department in the Clinical Section at the University of Utah Hospital and as a part-time WIC Nutritionist for the Summit County Health Department when Erica was an infant. When her third and final child Kristina was born, she shifted her energy and time as a volunteer for the church, school district, and for 20 years at the Sundance Film Festival.

Mary Stephen Freiberg Demkowicz is a vibrant woman and her spirit lives on with us. We celebrate the amazing person who lived an amazing life. She taught her family to care for others and help those in need. She accepted and loved all people and could get along with everyone. She worked hard and accomplished goals. Mary knew there was more to life than money and donated to many charities. She was not afraid to let someone know her opinion. She taught her children to speak up for themselves and others. Mary had an infectious laugh and would find humor in the simplest moments. She had many friends and many good times with them. Mary loved, laughed and lived life to the fullest.

Mary loved art and music. She loved rock and roll as well as symphony and attended the opera regularly with season tickets in her early life in Utah. She loved skiing and especially moguls. She would often speak about all her skiing and the number it did on her knees. In 2006 she had a knee replacement, turned 60 and her skiing days were done.

Mary was a loving grandmother to her five grandchildren, Riley, Aiden, Melody, Aubrie and Jaime. She spent many weekend days watching the kids while their parents were snowboarding. She spent many days with her daughter-in-law, Leslie and grandchildren at the zoo and museum. Mary attended hundred of grandkid soccer games and other activities.

In the recent years, Mary’s health declined and she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. She spent her last years with family and watching her grandchildren soccer games. John gave every effort to make her days and nights easy. He dedicated himself to the care of his wife and showed his true love. After a lifetime of Mom taking care of us, Dad took care of her. He made every effort to stay optimistic and help my mom recover as much as her illness would allow. It has been many years of good and bad days and he was there for all of them. Thank you, Dad for everything you did for Mom.

The family appreciates the friends, nurses and home care providers that made the days and months better and a little easier. The family wants to thank Lopa for her dedication, the care she provided and the uplifting spirit during the harder times. Due to her husband John and care taker Lopa's effort, Mary was in good hands and her life was extended.

There are not enough words to express Mary Demkowicz, her personality and the energy, vibrancy, compassion that she illuminated and the helping hand she would extend. She was a great wife and mother. In these later years and as our conversations became simple, she would always say “we really have an amazing life”, and I would say ‘Yes mom we do and thank you!’

Mary is survived by her husband, John; son Michael (Leslie) Demkowicz; daughters, Erica Demkowicz, and Kristina (Cleveland) Rose; grandchildren, Aubrie, Riley, Aiden, Melody, and Jaime; and her brother, Rick. She is preceded in death by her parents.

A viewing will be held on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 from 4-7 PM at Probst Family Funerals, 79 E Main St., Midway, UT 84049.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one or more of the charities below in memory of Mary.