EXLINE, Mary Ann (nee Bjelica) 1949-1997

EXLINE, BJELICA

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/9/2009 at 19:24:15

#1 of 2 items:

Mary A. Exline

CHARLES CITY, IOWA - Mary A. Exline, 47, 1221 Shadow Ave., rural Charles City, died on Monday, January 13, 1997, at her residence following a two-month illness of cancer.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Immaculate Conception Church, U.S. Highway 18 and Clark St., Charles City. Burial will be in the Calvary Cemetery, Charles City.

Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Fullerton Hage Funeral Home, 401 Blunt St., Charles City, where the family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. There will be a rosary service at 3 p.m. Wednesday and a time of remembrance at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Other arrangements are incomplete at the Fullerton Hage Funeral Home.

[Globe Gazette - 01/14/1997]

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#2 of 2 items:

Mary Ann Exline

CHARLES CITY, IOWA - Mary Ann Exline, 47, 1221 Shadow Ave., rural Charles City, passed away in the early morning hours of Monday (Jan. 13, 1997) at her home, surrounded by her family.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, U.S. Highway 18 and Clark Street, with Monsignor Walter Brunkan, pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Roseville, celebrating the Mass. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.

Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at the Fullerton Hage Funeral Home, 401 Blunt St., with the family receiving friends from 7 to 9 p.m. There will be a 3 p.m. rosary and a "Time for Remembrance" at 7 p.m. The family encourages friends to bring memories, poems and songs to share.

Mary, the daughter of Marko and Anna Bjelica, was born in Munich, Germany, in 1949.

In 1950 her family came to America. She attended St. Mary's Catholic Elementary School in Roseville, and Charles City High School, graduating in 1967.

She then received her RN degree at Mercy School of Nursing in Cedar Rapids.

She married her high school sweetheart, Steve Exline, son of Ed and Anne Exline, on Dec. 27, 1969, at St. Mary's Church in Roseville. They lived in Bemidji, Minn., where Mary practiced nursing for one year, and then moved to Forest Lake, where Mary continued her career for a year.

Shortly thereafter, Steve and Mary moved to Charles City, where they raised pigs, corn, soybeans and four daughters.

Mary was an avid golfer (better than her husband), loved canoeing, skiing, walking at noon, and bicycling with her family. Mary was a proud chaplain in the Chapter CY of the P.E.O. Sisterhood.

She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and St. Michael's Circle of the church. Most of all, Mom loved her family and friends.

Mary was a loving wife to Steve of Charles City; mom to four beautiful daughters, Michelle (26), Sue (22), Heidi (20) and Kristina (17), all of Charles City. Mary is also a sister to four caring brothers, Peter, Nicholas and Thomas Bjelica, all of Charles City, and Paul Bjelica of Kansas City, Mo.; and a beloved daughter of Anna of Charles City. She is also survived by one lovely sister-in-law, Roxann, an angelic niece, Elizabeth; and two smart nephews, Adam and Alex.

Mary was preceded in death by her father, Marko Bjelica.

Mary will be remembered for being better at giving than receiving, for finding something positive in everything, even when it was difficult, and for teaching everyone around her the importance of love and friendship. Mary touched us all in her own special way and she will never be forgotten.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Mary A. Exline Scholarship Fund, in care of First Citizens National Bank, 300 N. Main St., Charles City, Iowa 50616. Considering how much Mary valued education, she would have wanted it that way.

[Mason City Globe Gazette - 01/15/1997]