Mary Stern

Mary Ann Stern, age 84, passed away in her sleep on Saturday, May 15th in her home in Emily , Minnesota.

Mary Ann was born in Redwood County, Minnesota and grew up in Clements and Morgan, Minnesota. She was born on 11-28-36 to Paul and Ann (Weltsch) Heiling. On February 9th, 1957 she married the love of her life, Melvin R. Stern and they resided in Minneapolis. They eventually bought a home in Northeast Minneapolis, where they lovingly raised 4 children. They moved to Outing, Minnesota and lived on Lake Roosevelt in 1979. They moved to Emily Minnesota in 2001.

Mary Ann was a professional cake decorator while her children were growing up. She prided herself on making a one of a kind wedding cake for her married children. She won many blue ribbons for her work and also entered in the Minnesota state fair. She held a clerical position at an insurance company in Minneapolis before moving to Outing. She was employed at Crosby National Bank for several years. Mary and her husband were very active members of the Emily, Outing, Fifty Lakes Lions Club. Together they loved to golf, travel and bird watch. They spent about 20 years living on Lake Roosevelt and then moved to the current family home in Emily. Mary was an avid reader and enjoyed keeping up with current events and politics. Mary and her daughter shared a passion for flower gardening. Mary Ann had a caring heart and a giving soul. She was truly a good person who enjoyed life.

Mary Ann was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Melvin Stern, parents and sister Pauline Smude, her brothers-in-law Joe Smith, Alex Louis, Alan Anderson, Al Smude and Vince Schunk.
Mary Ann is survived by children Judy Benik, Jon (Karen) Stern, Jim (Kim) Stern and Joe Stern; her grandchildren Dylan & Dustin (DeeAnn) Benik, Jake Stern, Jessica (John) Istvanovich and Jared (Jeenah) Stern; step grandchildren Jamie & Justin Warndahl. She is survived by 5 great grandchildren as well; her twin sister Mary Ellen Schunk, brothers Dan (Joyce) Heiling, Norm (Sharon) Heiling; Sisters-in- law Joann Louis, Donna (Bill) Knadel and Jan Anderson; many nieces and nephews.

She will be laid to rest next to the love of her life at Pineridge Cemetery in Emily, Minnesota. A celebration of life will be held for Mary Ann and her husband Melvin later this summer at a date to be announced.