MARY FRANCES LUDOWESE

Mary Frances Ludowese

April 10, 1929-July 24, 2020

Mary Frances Ludowese, age 91, of Hutchinson, MN, passed away Friday, July 24, 2020, at the Christian Community Home in Hudson, WI.

A Private Family Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Anastasia Catholic Church in Hutchinson with interment in the Saint Willibrord’s Catholic Cemetery in Gibbon, MN. Father Paul Wolf officiated.

Urn Bearers were Mary’s great-grandchildren, Riley Ludowese and Vanessa Ludowese.

Mary Frances Ludowese was born on April 10, 1929, in New Ulm, MN. She was the daughter of George and Belinda (Corcoran) Eckert. Mary was baptized as an infant and was later confirmed in her faith as a youth at St. Willibrord’s Catholic Church in Gibbon. She received her education in Gibbon and was a graduate of the Gibbon High School Class of 1947. Mary continued her education at College of Saint Teresa in Winona, MN, for two years and then College of Saint Benedict.

On February 7, 1950, Mary was united in marriage to Harold “Jim” Ludowese at St. Willibrord’s Catholic Church in Gibbon. This marriage was blessed with eight children, John, Thomas, Sharon, Ann, Mary, Maureen, Jane, and Michael. Jim and Mary resided on the farm in rural Stewart. Mary was a loving wife and mother. She was a homemaker and cook for many hired hands on the farm as well as being employed at the Buffalo Lake Elementary School as a librarian. They later moved to Hutchinson in 1979. She was a member of St Anastasia Catholic Church in Hutchinson. They shared 61 years of marriage until Jim passed away on November 24, 2011.

Mary was proud of her Irish heritage, which helped her to develop a passion of genealogy. She was a gracious hostess for family and friends, welcoming and accepting everyone into her home. There was always dessert and coffee served.

She was patient and had a love for mentoring others. She was a volunteer in the coffee shop at the Hutchinson Hospital. She was a bookkeeper for Ludowese Trucking. She did alterations and consulting at the Style Stable and worked for Edward D. Jones. Mary also sponsored several children from International Orphanages.

Mary enjoyed genealogy, sewing, embroidery, needlepoint, crafts and reading. She was highly creative in sewing and decorating the doll houses that Jim built. Mary especially enjoyed spending time with her family, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, friends and relatives.

When Mary needed assistance with her daily care, she became a resident at the Christian Community Home in Hudson, WI, on June 1, 2020.

Mary is survived by her children, John Ludowese and his wife, Shirley, of Hutchinson, MN, Thomas Ludowese and his wife, Kathy, of Hutchinson, MN, Sharon Gernes and her husband, John, of Hudson, WI, Ann Weis and her husband, Henry of Chanhassen, MN, Maureen Ludowese of Woodbury, MN, Jane Ludowese of Woodbury, MN, Michael Ludowese of Hutchinson, MN; grandchildren, Andrew Ludowese and his wife, Erin, of Eden Prairie, MN, Jennifer Picken and her husband, Chris, of Sartell, MN, Daniel Ludowese and his wife, Anna, of St. Paul, MN, Michelle Ludowese of Hutchinson, MN, Brian Ludowese of Hutchinson, MN, Joshua Gernes and his wife, Jackie, of Eden Prairie, MN, Paul Gernes and his wife, Nikki, of Hudson, WI, Patrick Gernes of Hudson, WI, Laura Jehle and her husband, Chris, of Commerce Township, MI, Joel Weis and wife, Meghan, of Plymouth, MN, Gregory Weis and his wife, Cate, of Kasota, MN, Steven Weis and his wife, Sara, of North Mankato, MN; great-grandchildren, Abby Gernes, Vanessa and Morgann Ludowese, Colin, Blake and Stella Picken, Riley and Tayson Ludowese, Ayana and Hunter Kollar, Audrey Weis, and Henry Ludowese; many other relatives and friends.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents, George and Belinda Eckert; husband, Jim Ludowese; daughter, Mary Ludowese; brothers, George Eckert, Bill Eckert and Joe Eckert; and great-grandson, Mason Weis; many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

Arrangements by the Dobratz-Hantge Chapels in Hutchinson. Online Obituaries and Guest Book available at www.hantge.com.