- Date Of Birth: July 11, 1931
- Date Of Death: February 10, 2018
- State: Minnesota
Mary “Mara” Mrja, a lifelong resident of Hibbing, passed away peacefully in her sleep on February 10, 2018. She was known and loved by hundreds of children and parents as “Grandma Mary” from Kiddie Karousel where she worked for over 25 years and logged over 20,000 hours as a Foster Grandparent.
Mary was born in Carson Lake, Minnesota in 1931, the youngest of four children born to Jack and Mary Mrja. She graduated from Hibbing High School in 1948 and worked at Hibbing Hospital as a dietician. In later years she worked in the offices of several Hibbing businesses, including Bruno’s Body Shop. But it was her final job that made a lasting impact on her and the small children she loved and cared for. “Grandma Mary” made snacks, tied shoes, wiped noses, held babies, sang songs, and did all she could to help the teachers and the children. She got such joy from them that she worked right up until age 86 – waking up at 5:30 a.m. to catch the bus to work and greeting the kids as their parents dropped them off. Often she knew the parents because they themselves had grown up at Kiddie Karousel. It is ironic that, for a woman who had no children of her own, she ended up being a “Grandma” to so many hundreds of children. In 2015 she was recognized state-wide for her contribution of over 20,000 hours dedicated to the Foster Grandparent program.
Mary had a love of life and people, making friends throughout the Iron Range. She and her dear friends, Bobby Aro, Shirley Erickson Rodrigo and “Baldy” Rodrigo loved country music, singing and socializing. They had a table at Valentini’s specially dedicated to them labelled “The Orphans” table. Mary was also an avid bowler. During her youth she travelled throughout the Midwest with her teammates, winning several tournaments.
Mary was a founding and active member of St. Michael’s Orthodox Church and sang in the choir for over forty years. She was a talented cook who could improvise recipes and enjoyed serving others. She had a big heart, warm smile and loved to laugh. Her nieces adored their lovely “Auntie Mara” as a fun-loving, popular, stylish lady who was so generous to them and so considerate and loving.
Mary was preceded in death by her beloved parents and older brother, Sam. She is survived by her sister Millie of San Diego, California, and brother Nick of Hibbing, as well as six nieces, three great-nephews and six great-nieces and three great-great nephews.
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