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Mary Jondahl Obituary

February 11, 2024 – February 22, 2024

JOHNSON CITY - Mary Lee Jondahl, 81, of Johnson City, Tennessee passed away surrounded by family on February 22, 2024.

She was born in 1943 to Anna Ruth (Bowser) and Albert Whitaker and grew up in a farmhouse in beautiful Greene County. As soon as she turned 18, Mary Lee moved to Washington D.C., where she met and married the love of her life, Lee. Excited to start their new life together, they packed up and traveled around the country and the world, raising their children in Maine, Puerto Rico, and Italy before returning to the US in 1976.

Mary Lee was known for her generosity and devotion to help others and could be found volunteering as a hostess at her beloved One Acre Cafe. She was very active in the Tree Streets community, serving as a coordinator for many of the neighborhood events over the years. Mary Lee was an avid gardener, voracious reader, and the children of the Tree Streets held a special place in her heart. She will be remembered for her kindness, authenticity, matter-of-fact wisdom, her famous front porch storytelling, and her unwavering spirit.

Mary Lee was preceded in death by her husband, Lee Jondahl, and is survived by her sister, Nancy Sue (Frankie), her children, Valorice, Lee Edward (Carolyn), and Esteban, her grandchildren, Jessica (Jack), Lindsay (Joey), and Shaun, and three great grandchildren, Olivia, Alex, and Max, extended family and friends, and her dog Gwendolyn Maude.

In lieu of flowers, Mary Lee's children request donations to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee (netfoodbank.org). The Jondahl family is planning a Celebration of Life and potluck for April 13, 2024 from 1:00 - 3:00PM at the former home of the One Acre Cafe (603 W Walnut St, Johnson City, TN 37604).

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Johnson City Press on Feb. 23, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for Mary Jondahl

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Maria Liskey

April 11, 2024

Mary Lee was a force of light and love! She was an incredibly good friend to my parents and an especially amazing support system to my mom. For that I will be forever grateful. I remember meeting Mary Lee and Lee in Italy when I was just a little girl and being in awe of her force of nature! My parents and I feel blessed to have had her in our lives. My deepest condolences to the family - - sending you all a big hug from my dad and me.
With heartfelt sympathy,
Maria Azzurra Liskey & Luciano Fasano

Michael Humphreys

February 25, 2024

She was the heart n soul of one acre Cafe she will be truly missed I always will reamber her smile she always made me laugh my condolences goes out to her family.

Michael Humphreys

February 25, 2024

She was a good friend she always had a smile every time she came to one acre Cafe she always made me laugh I will never forget her smile she will always have a place in my heart my condolences goes out to her family.

Ashley Cavender

February 24, 2024

Mary Lee was a force of light and love! I had the privilege to work with her at One Acre and in many other facets. Her love for the cafe and the Tree Streets was so strong. She will be missed dearly. Sending her family and friends healing and light during this time. Love you dear friend.

Kiran

February 23, 2024

Blessings in memory to Mary Lee. Love to all her family and friends. Mary Lee was a kind hearted soul and a friend to newcomers, flowers, gardens, to our entire Tree Streets family. Mary Lee championed the spirit of community life, supporting her neighbors and making everyone feel at home.

Mary Lancaster

February 23, 2024

Mary Lee was truly full of energy and unforgettable. Her spirit was evident with her work at One Acre. Having the privilege of getting to know her and work along side her has made me a better person. Thank you Mary Lee. May you rest in peace. My thoughts and prayers are with all her family and the One Acre/Tree Streets families.

Kathy Serago

February 23, 2024

I am so sorry to hear about Mary Lee passing away. It was a shock to say the least. The community has lost someone that has put so much of herself into the neighborhood. She has made the Tree Streets a much better place. With so many new people moving in I don't think they know what she has done to improve the feeling of community in the neighborhood. With her late husband Lee they would go around to different music venues to find groups to play at Music in the Park. They would even clean up the entire area before the music began. The beautiful flower containers in the park have been watered and maintained by Mary Lee for years. She was one of the organizers of the Garden Tour we would have every year-also the Historic House Tour, both of which SNO does not do anymore. She spent countless hours working on the Yard Sale, 4th of July Parade and the neighborhood spring clean up. She attended endless city commission meeting on matters regarding our neighborhood and fought zoning issues that would have harmed out neighborhood. She could be found at Once Acre Cafe giving her time every week. This is a person who has truly volunteered thousands, and I'm not exaggerating, thousands of hours to make the Tree Streets a great place to live. I will miss you Mary Lee.

Michelle Watts

February 23, 2024

Michelle Watts

February 23, 2024

Michelle Watts

February 23, 2024

Michelle Watts

February 23, 2024

Marylee always made me laugh. She always greeted me with a big hug when she came to One Acre.

Marylee was one of our first volunteers at One Acre and she lit up the room with her smile and her huge personality. Her love of the cafe and everyone in it was so evident as soon as she walked through the door.

MaryLee will be missed by so many in her community.

Ashley Adams

February 23, 2024

Tuesday food review. I worked in the kitchen at OAC. After her an Val had lunch she would come to the kitchen and give food reviews. From there she became a dear friend. I would visit her at her home were we would sit in the kitchen and gossip or on the front porch and talk about plants. She will always hold a special place in my heart. She was a dear friend. Ms Mary Lee helped me many times when I needed an extra hand. She will truly be missed

Angela Jones

February 22, 2024

Ed, Esteban and Valerie. I am very sorry to hear about the passing of Mary Lee. She was very kind, generous and had many talents. Some of my favorite memories include Jessica, Lindsay and Shaun coming over to my house and seeing that I had a stack of items that I was going to throw away. I was informed that I could not throw anything away because Grandma Jondahl said that "One person´s trash is another persons treasure" and that I would have to find people who would like the treasures I was about to trash! Another fond memory is your Mom agreeing with me that the old orange dining room chairs that my Aunt had given to me were hideous. I was a new college grad at the time so didn´t have much money to buy new chairs. Your Mom said that she would recover the chairs if I provided the fabric. She did an amazing job! The chairs looked brand new. She didn´t have to do that, but that was the person she was ... very kind and very talented to be able to recover chairs. I also know that she and Lee were very involved grand parents spending lots of high quality time with the grand kids.

I hope Mary Lee is at peace now and reunited in spirit with Lee. And I do hope the 3 of you can find time to reminisce and find comfort in all the memories of the good times with Mary Lee and Lee.

Showing 1 - 13 of 13 results

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Memorial Events
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Apr

13

Celebration of Life

1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

the former home of the One Acre Cafe

603 W Walnut St, Johnson City, TN

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