Serena Patricia Boulanger

Serena Patricia Boulanger, 72, McKinney, Texas passed away on March 18, 2019 after a short hospital stay.

Serena was born in Seattle, Washington on December 17, 1946, the third child of Patricia and Irving Stamnes.  She attended St. Catherine Grade School and Holy Names Academy. Following graduation in 1965, she attended Seattle University.

In 1966 she married her high school sweetheart, Mark, and in 2018 they celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary.  Serena lived a life of adventure, residing in 8 different U.S. cities plus short stays in Brazil and Chile.  She had a passion for travel and enjoyed exploring new cities and countries. But her true love was her family, including five wonderful children. She was a devoted wife and mother, logging a million miles in car pool duties, spending countless hours volunteering in her children’s classrooms, and seldom missing an athletic event as her children were growing up. She never failed to make a new house a home for her family, becoming immersed in the neighborhood and community. She was the ultimate cook and loved to entertain family and friends. Serena had a natural ease that drew people to her, forming lasting bonds with all those who met her. She took joy in serving her community through volunteering with her church guilds, the Chicago Art Institute, Catholic Charities and many others.

In later life, it was her 13 grandchildren that became her focus. She instilled in them a love of family, games, puzzles, cooking, gardening, and the outdoors. She would spend weeks at time caring for her grandchildren so their parents could have a well-earned personal break or stress-free business trip. She formed strong bonds with each of them, as if they were her own children.

She was a woman of strength and faith.  She remained close to her Creator her entire life and faced adversity with courage and resiliency. After losing her father to heart disease at the age of 11, she played an integral part in the care of her siblings.  She took all of life’s stressors as a young mom with a mobile family in stride. She fought her battles with breast cancer and glioblastoma with dignity and grace. Serena was truly loved by all.

Serena is survived by Mark, her husband of 52 years, four of her children: Gregory (Jill), David (Sophia), Patricia (Steven Earp), Kristine (Michael Batiste), daughter-law, Megan Monroe and thirteen grandchildren: Marissa, Jonathan, Michael, Thomas, Mary Clair, Molly, Serena, Amanda, Maria, Frank, Adelaide, Collin, Theodore, and her siblings: Thomas, Michael, Kristine, Douglas, Steven and many more extended family members. Serena was preceded in death by her parents, Patricia and Irving, and her son, Jeffrey.

A Visitation will be from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm on Thursday, March 28, 2019 at Allen Family Funeral Options.  The Rosary will be recited during this time.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Friday, March 29, 2019 at St. Jude Catholic Church, 1515 N. Greenville Avenue Allen, Texas 75002. A reception will immediately follow.

Remembrances in lieu of flowers may be made to University of Texas Southwestern, School of Medicine, Dept. of Neuro-Oncology, Dallas, TX or Holy Names Academy, Seattle, WA, Class of 1965 Scholarship Fund.