Mary Ellen Xavier

Mary Xavier, of rural Ellendale, MN died January 28, 2019, at home under the care of her family and Hospice of Albert Lea, five months after a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

Mary was born April 28, 1952, in La Crosse, Wisconsin, to Archibald Emmanuel Sokolik Jr. and Katherine Rebecca (Fauver) Sokolik. She and Joel Xavier were married on May 26, 1979.

Education, music, family, church, plants, collecting, and accounting all gave Mary joy in life. She attended country school in Long Coulee School rural Holmen, WI; graduated from Logan High School in La Crosse; from University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, with a Bachelor of Music; and from Southwest Minnesota University, bachelor’s degrees in accounting and a teaching degree in band, orchestra, and vocal music. Mary taught in different schools K-12 in Minnesota and South Dakota, including Blooming Prairie Public Schools and Hollandale Christian School. She earned her MBA from Capella University. Mary held different accounting positions through the years. Most recently she has been an accountant for OSPA, the Office of Sponsored Projects Administration, in the Mayo organization. Mary has been a part of many choirs, bands and orchestras, sometimes as the director. She was recently co-director of the Kasson United Methodist Church Choir. She has been a member of the Austin Symphony Orchestra for twenty years and in that orchestra has played oboe, bassoon, English horn, viola, violin, and saxophone. Music is one part of Mary’s life of faith expressed through her being a part of Christ’s church wherever she lived.

Mary is survived by her husband Joel; sons, Matthew of St. Louis Park, MN, and John (Caitlin) of Verona, WI; sisters, Ann (Larry) Kosiba of Chicago, IL and Phoenix, AZ, Kathy (George) Jolivette of Oregon, WI, and Carol (Tom) Vanderpool of White Bear Lake, MN; brothers, Archie of Ettrick, WI; Sam (Janet) of Holmen, WI, and Stanley of Galesville, WI; and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents; and nephew Brad Jolivette.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 2, 2019, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 301 8 ^th Ave NW, Kasson, with Rev. David Efflandt officiating.  The family will greet friends from 3:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday, February 1, 2019, at Czaplewski Family Funeral Homes, 801 7 ^th St SE Kasson, and one hour prior to the service at the church.

If you choose to give a memorial gift in Mary’s name the family suggests Austin Symphony Orchestra, St. John’s Lutheran Church Foundation, or the Bible camp of your choosing.

Blessed be her memory.

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