Date of Birth:
Saturday, October 10, 1931
Date of Death:
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Age:
79 years old

Mary Kathryn Conrad

The Funeral Mass for Mary Kathryn Conrad will be at 11:00am Wednesday, August 31, 2011 at St. Pius X Church in Rochester with the Rev. Charlies Collins officiating.  Burial to follow at Rochester’s Grandview Memorial Garden.

Mrs. Conrad, 79, entered eternal life on Saturday (August 27, 2011) after an extended illness at home with her family.

Mary was born October 10, 1931 on the family farm at Ellendale, Minnesota to Edward Francis and Carlyn Irene (Hansen) Butler.  She attended a one room country school and in 1949 graduated from Blooming Prairie High School where she was involved with the school paper, lettered in Band; was a member of the Honor Society and a State American Legion representative.  Mary attended St. Marys School of Nursing, graduating in 1952 as a Registered Nurse.  She was privileged and humbled to care for those at St. Marys Hospital during the polio epidemic and then was the head nurse of orthopedics.  In 1954 she became a homemaker but returned to nursing in 1957 as an industrial nurse at IBM.  She later worked for thirteen years at Madonna Towers, retiring in 1992.

On June 8, 1963 she married Lyle L. Conrad at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Rochester.  Lyle introduced himself to her at IBM by asking her if she wanted a kiss—he then produced a candy peanut butter kiss and the rest is history.

Mary belonged to the St. Pius Parish since 1963, the Rosary Society and the local Suicide and Brain Injury Support Groups.  She enjoyed her ’57 Chevy Bel Air, ’67 Buick Electra 225 and was given a ’95 Buick Sabre, her “tip” for 32 years of packing Dad’s lunch.  Mary enjoyed reading and a meal she didn’t have to cook.  She worked hard maintaining an acre garden, canning, baking and sewing.  Mary had a great amount of love and understanding.  She was a generous person with her time and support for those who needed assistance, a hand up or just some summer vegetables.  Her main priorities were her faith, family and that her children have a Catholic upbringing.

Mary’s sense of humor was constant and she always had a twinkle in her eye.  She will be truly missed.    Blessed be her memory.

Mary is survived by her husband Lyle, sons Robert Ball and David Conrad; daughters Micki Ball, Theresa (Edward) Nielson, Susan (Michael) Pitzer and Karen (Steven) Barnes.  She leaves behind her grandchildren Ashley, Michael and Katie Pitzer, Emma Barnes and great-grand daughter Lilly Ann Kennedy; her sister Janet Morgan; sister-in-law LaVonna (Don) Ruhl; brothers-in-law Devon (Irene) and Lotus (Jacqueline) Conrad; “adopted” daughter, Linda S. Ball-Boschee; cousins Pat & Jim Ferrell and many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews and many dear friends.

Mary was preceded in death by her son John Edward; brother Jerry Butler; parents; step father James Butler; inlaws Russell and Inez Conrad; her first husband, Robert Blayne Ball and sister-in-law, Evelyn L. Ball D.C.

The family wishes to express their gratitude and thanks to Doctors Durpas, Nagpal, Gupta and Lee; Andy McDermott, RN; Mary Norrie and Mayo Hospice.

Visitation will be from 5pm to 8pm Tuesday, August 30, 2011 in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday.

Memorials may be made to the charity of choice.

A Nurses Prayer:

Dear God, I thank you for calling me to the vocation of nursing.  It is a hard but blessed life.  Give me strength and patience O good Saviour, that I may help those who suffer and ease the burden of mankind.  Let me never grow hard and unsympathetic, but make me firm to do what must be done.   O blessed Mother of God, O good St. Anne, and you St. Catherine of Siena, who at night with lantern in your hand sought out the victims of the deadly plague and served their needs, give me of your strength for Jesus’ sake.  Amen.

Macken Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com