She was born in Winona, MN, on April 9, 1914, and grew up in Kenosha. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Agnes Sullivan of Kenosha; her late husband, Dick Mann; her brother, Frank (Pearl) Sullivan; and her sister, Kathryn (Robert) Janisky; her granddaughter, Sandra Hutchinson; and her great-granddaughter, Megan Hutchinson.She is survived by her daughters, Kathleen (Neil) Hutchinson of Racine and Mary Ellen (Paul) Kaster of Wayzata, MN. She is also survived by seven grandchildren: Mary Day, John (Laura), Casey (Judy) and Michael (Julie) Hutchinson and Carolyn, John, and Laura Kaster, plus six great- and two great- great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother, John E. (Dorothy) Sullivan of Kenosha; nieces, nephews and many friends.
Mary worked her whole life, most memorably at Oster’s, Meadowbrook Country Club and the Bartley House. She was a faithful member of St. Richard’s Catholic Church, where she was involved with the Legion of Mary, Christian Mothers, and various other church service groups. Whether she was at work, volunteering, or at play, she was everyone’s Mom, Grandma and friend.
Our Mother was blessed with a generous spirit, selfless soul, and a passion for all things IRISH! She loved people and people loved her. She loved to talk and tell her stories, adding a bit of Blarney here and there, as only she could do! She found joy in reaching out to everyone. She was admired and loved by all whose lives she touched. Her contagious optimism, and her sense of humor truly inspired (and entertained) others. Our Mother worked hard her whole life and had many sorrows. In spite of and because of them, she set an example for us of a life profoundly and beautifully lived. She gave every day she had and everything she had, to us. She knew, and she tried to teach us, that contentment was achieved by rejoicing in what you had, not despairing over what you did not have. We watched her never waiver in her faith in God and her love of her Church and the Blessed Mother.
We want to especially thank the staff from Lakeshore Manor for the care they gave our mother during the last 2 years of her life. There is no better place she could have been. They loved her and treated her as their own. We should all be fortunate enough to be cared for by nurses like Bernie Flores, Cheryl Glaser, and the entire fifth floor staff. They gave our mother the quality of life she deserved. Brenda King, you were her special angel. Also, our endless gratitude to her dear and faithful friend, Annette Basaldua. You never missed a week visiting her and taking Mom her favorite things to eat. You made sure she knew the outside world had not forgotten her. She is smiling with love on you all and she will see to it that all the kindness you showed her is returned to you.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, February 17, 2009, at 11 a.m. in St. Richard Catholic Church, 1503 Grand Ave., with Rev. Ronald J. Gramza officiating. A reception will immediately follow at church. Private interment will take place at St. James Cemetery in Kenosha. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Monday from 4-7 p.m. and in the church on Tuesday from 10-11 a.m. In memory of Mary, memorials to “Mothers Against Drunk Drivers” have been suggested.
Thank you Mother, for making the world a better place to live for 94 years.
“Erin Go Bragh”
“Erin Go Bragh”
Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home & Crematory
4600 County Line Rd., Racine (262) 552-9000
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