Mary Ann Kilian

Kilian, Mary Ann, Age 94, of Hopkins, formerly of Edina, was welcomed to eternal life on September 26, 2023. She lived a beautiful life, full of love and joy. Through all of her long-term physical challenges and her late-in-life cognitive decline, Mary always maintained a positive attitude and warm smile. She frequently let people know that she "wasn't Irish for nothing"! Mary is preceded in death by her parents, her three brothers and son, Dan. She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 71 years, Alcuin; children Jim, John (Lynda), Janet (Brad) Ost and daughter-in- law Michelle; grandchildren Heidi (James) Brown, Heather (Michael) Lambert, Cody (John) Chadbourn, Taylor (CJ) Smith, Kelsey (Chris) Randall, Andrew Ost, Austin Ost, Elizabeth Kilian and Haley Kilian; great-grandchildren Presley Brown, Cayden Lambert, Lucas Lambert and Grayson Smith; and many relatives and friends. Mass of Christian Burial October 12, 2023; 10:30 am at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 5071 Eden Ave, Edina, MN. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Sharing and Caring Hands or American Heart Association. My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. -John 14:2-3 Mary Ann Kilian's Life Story Mary was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin to Frank and Mildred (Kenney) Farrell. Her three brothers Bob (Cindy), Ed (Joyce) and Jack were respectively 15, 10 and 8 years older than Mary. She was very close with her parents having spent many years as the only child in the house. She attended school at McKinley School, St. Patrick's School and Roosevelt. She graduated from Fond du Lac High School in 1947 where she learned the cheer song, "Dear Fondy High, We Sing to Thee..."; she sang this song many, many times through the years. Al met Mary's brother Jack while in the Airforce. Al saw a picture of Mary in Jack's wallet which inspired him to start writing letters to her on February 22, 1950. They dated largely via mail for two years while Mary worked at First Federal Savings & Loan in Fond du Lac. After being discharged from the Airforce in October 1951, Al took a job in Chicago with the airlines. On most of Al's days off, he would drive four hours to Fond du Lac to see Mary. Mary would recount how when Al wrote to say what time he would arrive that he was always prompt! After just one winter of driving back and forth, Al had decided that was enough! He proposed to Mary on February 10, 1952, and they were married at St. Patrick's Church in Fond du Lac on September 6, 1952. Mary took her first airplane ride for their honeymoon to New York City and Niagara Falls. After living a short time in Chicago and Detroit, Mary and Al moved to Minnesota in 1956. In 1957, they settled in Edina and became members of Our Lady of Grace Church. Mary was a full-time homemaker raising Jim, John, Janet and Dan while Al worked various shifts during his airline career. She frequently recalled, "I didn't wait for your father to come home to discipline you kids; I handled things right then and there"! Over the years, Mary enjoyed playing piano, knitting, polka dancing, playing cards and traveling. When Dan entered first grade, she began working part-time at First Southdale National Bank (now part of U.S. Bank) as a teller and then as a safe deposit clerk. In later years, she volunteered at Fairview Southdale Hospital doing office work for over 15 years. On January 9, 1985, at age 55, Mary suffered a stroke which left her paralyzed on her left side. With a motto of "never ever, ever give up" and a lot of fortitude, Mary learned how to walk with the assistance of a cane and a leg brace. Mary and Al continued to travel and cruise extensively after her stroke and well into their retirement. They wintered in Arizona for 25 years in addition to taking four cruises and traveling all over the United States and to many countries in Europe, as well as Tokyo and Hong Kong. In March 2018, Mary and Al moved to The Glenn - Hopkins where they were able to attend daily mass. Then on May 1, 2019, Mary had a second stroke which left her wheelchair bound. Three weeks to the day later, Dan passed away from a heart attack. Mary returned to The Glenn after 3 months of transitional care where Al and Janet were her devoted caregivers until her last breath.

Tributes

Mary Ann Kilian

August 7, 1929 - September 26, 2023

Tributes

Mary Ann Kilian

August 7, 1929 - September 26, 2023

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