Red Lake Falls - Mary Wavra, 85, died Sunday, December 20, 1998 at Hillcrest Nursing Home in Red Lake Falls.
Mass of Christian burial was held on Wednesday, December 23, 1998 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Dorothy's Catholic Church in Dorothy with Father Tim Bushy officiating. Polly Beyer was the organist, and special music was provided by St. Dorothy's Church Choir. Casketbearers were Dale Wavra, Michael Wavra, Dave Wavra, Jim Wavra, Mark Woinarowicz and Dean Lizotte. Honorary casketbearers were all of Mary's grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Burial was in Prairie View Cemetery near Euclid. The Petterson Funeral Home in Red Lake Falls was in charge of the arrangements.
Mary Edith Steer was born December 17, 1913 in Killarney, Manitoba, Canada, the daughter of Charles and Bessie (Ball) Steer. At the age of seven she moved with her family to the United States. They settled near Euclid where she grew up and attended school.
On October 20, 1931 Mary was united in marriage to Dorn Wavra at Euclid. The couple farmed near Euclid, milking cows and raising chickens and pigs. In 1952 they moved to the Dorothy area where they farmed until they retired and moved to Red Lake Falls in 1980. Dorn died in 1982. Mary had resided at Hillcrest Nursing Home since the fall of 1994.
She was a member of the Ladies Guild and enjoyed gardening, sewing and writing letters. She also enjoyed cooking, baking, quilting and embroidery.
Mary is survived by one son, Eugene (Jeanette) Wavra of Crookston; two daughters, Darlene (Darrel) Lizotte of Mt. Vernon, WA and Sharon (Mike) Woinarowicz of Fargo, ND; one daughter-in-law, Arlene Wavra of Red Lake Falls; 29 grandchildren; 69 great-grandchildren; her twin brother Henry Steer of Crookston and brother, Charles (Ione) Steer of Euclid; and three sisters, Amy Hoeper of Stephen, Nola Scheilie of Portland, OR and Florence Rood of Crookston.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dorn; one son, Vernon in November of 1996; her parents; two grandchildren, Carrie and Brian; two great-grandchildren, Erin and Angela; one brother, Jack Steer; and an infant sister.