Age 80 of Inver Grove Heights
Passed away peacefully on April 9, 2024. Preceded in death by husband, George; parents, Otto & Ethel Deustermann; sister, Judy Peterson. Survived by daughters, Laurie (Mark) Thelen, Michele Paine & LeeAnn (Shawn) Ockwig; 8 grandchildren, Tyler (Corinne) Paine, Quinci Paine, McKinley Paine, Devinn Paine, Matthew Thelen, Jacob Thelen, Caitlyn Ockwig (Joe Mangin) & Rebecca Ockwig; siblings, Carol (Bob) Stage, Ron (Betty) Deustermann & Nancy (Jim) Tuerk; brother-in-law, Richard Sellner; also many other family & friends.
Mary grew up on the West Side of St. Paul, attending St. Matthew’s School and graduating from Humboldt High School in 1961. She worked as a legal secretary, meeting her husband George at the water cooler at Sperry Univac, where he worked as a techical draftsman. Mary and George raised their three daughters in So. St. Paul and Inver Grove Heights, and in 1981 and she returned to work at Brown & Bigelow. She continued her career at Murnane Law Firm and St. Paul Traveler’s, retiring after decades as a legal secretary. Mary became a widow in 1999, after 35 years of mairriage. She enjoyed her 8 grandchildren, taking great joy in their milestones and accomplishments over the years. Mary traveled widely, exploring the world with wonderful friends. She kept busy in retirement exercising at the YMCA in Eagan, where her friend group deepened each week as they spent lunch at Panera, laughing and sharing stories. She enjoyed singing in the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church choir and volunteering at Neighbors, Inc., in So. St. Paul, in the footsteps of her father. Mary developed Type 1 Diabetes later in life, along with M.S. and Lewy Body Dementia. She ended her days at Valley Ridge Retirement Community in memory care.
Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am, Saturday, April 13th, at the Church of St. Patrick, 3535 72nd St., Inver Grove Heights. Visitation 9:00-10:00 am prior to Mass. Interment Resurrection Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials preferred.