It’s hard to know where to start to summarize Maree’s life and legacy.
Maree McRae-Whisenand was born Dec. 31, 1959. She rode and jumped horses as a young girl. She loved skiing and worked at ski resorts in her teens. As an adult, you could always find Maree outside when she wasn't working. She loved tennis, paddle boarding, and biking, among the many active outdoor activities she pursued.
Maree was the mother of her beloved daughter, Stella Ruelle, whom she fought for since Stella’s birth all the way to her untimely death at the age of 33. Maree was a successful real estate broker for over 40 years in the Denver area - a career she always said was chosen by a Divine plan. It allowed her to pay the many, many hundreds of thousands of dollars in skyrocketing medical bills for her child who, from an early age, suffered with an immune deficiency disorder.
The true career of Maree's heart was Music. As a child, she started playing the piano at the age of 5, and guitar since 5th grade. She was a professional singer-songwriter and musician throughout her life, and she toured as a top artist at music festivals throughout Sweden and the US. Her songs charted on Billboard’s Americana Charts and on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary Charts, with her single, "BREEZE" hitting the Top Ten.
“What comes from the heart, stays with the heart”.
- Maree McRae
However for Maree, music was more than just the success of working as a professional musician. Maree felt she was only a messenger here in life. Her music gave her a chance to share her heart and make music and videos that others connected with through their own hearts and suffering. Maree’s quote about her music was “What comes from the heart, stays with the heart”. Giving was the most important part of her life, and what she felt everyone’s purpose should be. Giving to others was easy for Maree and she lived lovingly and humbly.
In the wake of her daughter’s later struggles with mental illness, and the hurdles they encountered to get Stella the care and support she needed, Maree’s moving songs, REASON and OVER AND OVER, were written. Navigating their way through the broken mental health system became Maree's daily mission.
As a result she founded HEART MIND HAVEN - the ground breaking non-profit to provide safe transitional living for homeless LGBTQ+ individuals struggling with mental health challenges. Heart Mind Haven was what Maree was most proud of in her life. During the many years she spent supporting her daughter through various medical institutions and programs, she was fiercely passionate about fighting for change in our mental health care system. She was very vocal about the need for reform, and provided key testimony for many of Colorado’s mental health bills that were enacted into law. The love and support she gave to the residents of Heart Mind Haven, as well as to the broader community through her activism, will be felt for decades to come.
In 2019 Maree was diagnosed with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, a terminal illness, which is progressive and incurable. As the disease progressed, the outdoor activities she loved became more difficult, and singing and performing became too hard. Losing so much of what she called, “her lifelines” was very challenging. Yet the hardest challenge was in October 2024, with the catastrophic loss and grief of losing her only child, Stella.
She was an animal lover and proud of her beloved dogs, Max, and then Samson, who was a trained therapy dog, with whom she volunteered with at hospice. Earlier this year, a puppy named Sherpa was brought to Maree to do what the word Sherpa means; “something brought to lighten the load of one on a particular journey.” Sherpa helped to heal Maree’s heart that was so broken.
Maree had a spiritual connection to the waters in Laguna Beach, CA where she had a miraculous soul communication with her deceased daughter, and Maree chose to have the end of her life by the ocean there. Maree qualified and used Medical Aid in Dying and was a strong advocate for Death With Dignity for all human beings, and their right to choose a peaceful death.
Maree changed the world for the better in so very many ways. Her music and advocacy, her honesty and openness, changed everyone who met and knew her. We celebrate a life that was incredibly well lived. Maree will live on with all the love she showed so many of us, and in all of the fights she fought for those who couldn’t fight for themselves. She changed us all and we are better for knowing and loving her.
We love you Maree and your Light will continue to light all of our lives on this journey we all share. We will miss you incredibly, but know it was time for you to finally rest amongst the angels, including your beloved daughter. Your mission on earth was completed and a life beautifully lived.
Maree wanted this saying to be the summary of what she felt about life and others, and what she learned from her own life and her daughter’s struggles:
Empathy:
“Let me hold the door for you.
I may have never walked in your shoes
But I can see your soles are worn
It’s the least I can do.”
***
Maree passed away on July 31, 2025 from medical complications of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, just 37 weeks after the passing of her daughter, Stella Ruelle.
Maree is survived by her loving husband, Damon, her beloved sister Linda, sister in law Emily, brother Tom, sister Ann, nephews Andy and Nicholas, and her 97 year old beloved mother and light of her life. Her father, Ray, passed away in 2014 with whom she was also extremely close to. Her parents and family meant everything to her. Her best friend of 30 years was Diane, whom she lost in 2012.
Maree’s Celebration of Life will be at The Retreat at Solterra (15250 W Evans Ave, Lakewood, CO 80228) on Sunday September 28, 2025 at 3pm.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Heart Mind Haven in her memory at coloradogives.org/organization/Heart-Mind-Haven
You can read about and listen to Maree’s music at MareeMcRaemusic.com and watch her videos on YouTube.