Mary Triggs

Mary Kathleen Triggs, 93, Topeka, Kansas, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, died Friday, May 29, 2026. Mary was born December 16, 1932, in Perry, Kansas, the daughter of James and Bertha Wenzl Burns. The family moved to a farm in Valley Falls, Kansas when Mary was three years old. She attended St. Mary’s Grade School and graduated in 1950 from Valley Falls High School as the school’s first Homecoming Queen. She attended Mount St. Scholastica College and Kansas State College. In the early 1950s, Mary was employed by Blue Cross Blue Shield and then in the Topeka City Clerk’s Office. On June 18, 1955, Mary and John Edwin Triggs were united in marriage at St. Mary’s Immaculate Conception Church in Valley Falls. They enjoyed more than 63 years together prior to John’s death on December 21, 2018. Mary and John lived in Bremerton, Washington for one year before moving back to Kansas, spending most of their time in Topeka where they raised their family. Mary was a devoted homemaker, staying at home with the children while they were young. In the 1970s she was employed as an administrative secretary by Washburn University in the counseling office and later for Catholic Social Services for 13 years. An active member of Most Pure Heart of Mary Church, Mary served in many areas including Perpetual Adoration, serving and providing food for funeral dinners, a member of the St. Vincent Circle and Red Hat Society, and sometimes assisting the grade school teachers with special projects. She was an avid bridge player in a Most Pure Heart Mom’s group and also a Washburn Wives bridge group. Mary leaves to cherish her memory, her children, Jim (Mary Ann), John (Dian), Brigid, Tim (Angie) and Ann; grandchildren, Ryan (Jes), Dan (Lindsey), Mike (Margaret), Cody, Tanner (Heather), Joe (Connor), Carly (Joe), Madeline (Stephen), Johnny, Brigid (Chase), Caleb and Mary; great-grandchildren, Avery, Emmy, Iris, Harvey, Audra, Lucy, George and Quinn; her siblings, Rita Burns, Tom Burns (Peggy) and Phil Burns (Shirley); sisters-in law, Agnes Burns, Marilyn Burns, Mary Jane Burns and Deena Burns; and beloved nieces and nephews. Mary was also preceded by her siblings, Ruth Langen, Ray Burns, Margaret Dawson, Pat Burns, Alice Edmunds, Paul Burns and Terry Burns. Services for Mary will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to Most Pure Heart of Mary Church, sent in care of Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 SW Urish Road, Topeka KS 66614. Condolences may be sent online to www.kevinbrennanfamily.com. The Triggs family thanks Celebration Villa for the wonderful care they gave to Mary these past four years, especially for their care of her when she lived on the Assisted Living side this past year. Also, thanks to Midland Care Hospice for their excellent care and support of Mary and her family.

Mary Triggs

December 16, 1932 - May 29, 2026