Ames, Mary (1930-2016)

AMES, SHAFFER, MCCAULEY, COOK

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 12/5/2016 at 15:02:21

Mary Ames
October 28, 1930 - October 18, 2016

Edina resident Mary Ames, 85, died on October 18, 2016, at St. Therese of New Hope from complications of a stroke.

Mary, a daughter of Hollie and Irene (McCauley) Shaffer, was born on October 28, 1930, in Nevada, Iowa. She graduated from high school in Swaledale, Iowa, and then attended what is now North Iowa Area Community College and the University of Northern Iowa. For a few years, Mary taught in primary schools in northern Iowa.

In the mid-1950s, she moved to Forest City, Iowa. During her years living there, she worked for the family furniture store, the local high school, and with refugee settlement programs. Mostly, however, she was a strong and loving mother to her children and an optimistic and energetic presence in the lives of her many friends.

In the mid-1980s, Mary moved to the Twin Cities where she was a long-time parishioner at St. Richard’s Catholic Church in Richfield. Moreover, she worked for Medica for many years, retiring in 2008 at the age of 77. While at Medica, she became known as the “bunny lady.” She cajoled and encouraged her colleagues to donate a toy bunny to be distributed to needy children during Easter time. She felt all kids needed a bunny to hug even if their family couldn’t provide one. For her efforts, she was featured on the local TV news. The annual “bunny drive,” thanks to her, has become an ongoing effort at Medica and other local companies.

Nonetheless, Habitat for Humanity fully activated Mary’s volunteerism gene. Through St. Richard’s parish, she raised money and organized several Habitat “builds” in the Twin Cities. In addition, she used her vacation time and money to build houses in Tennessee and Alabama (in the wake of Hurricane Katrina) and in Northern Ireland, Poland, Thailand, and Botswana. In its 2006-07 Annual Report, the Twin Cities chapter recognized Mary’s devotion to the families sheltered by Habitat. “Every kid needs a kitchen table where they can do homework,” she would say.

Proud of her Irish heritage, Mary organized a family reunion in Dublin in 2005 that attracted about 30 family members from eight U.S. states. A Mass was said for Mary at St. Andrew’s Church in Dublin City Center on Saturday.

Mary is survived by her son Joe (Linda), of Irvine, California; her daughters, Jean, of New Hope, and Anne (Tom), of Minneapolis, her grandchildren: Tony (Sharayah), Callie, Mitchell, Shannon, Jack, and Paul; and her great grandson, Carter, as well as by many cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Marvyl Cook.

Visitation will be on Monday, October. 24, 2016, from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Gill Brothers Funeral Home, 5801 Lyndale Ave. South, Minneapolis. After the visitation, the family invites Mary’s friends to toast “a life well lived” at Houlihan’s, 6601 Lyndale Ave. South.

On Tuesday, October. 25, 2016, St. Richard’s Catholic Church, 7540 Penn Avenue South, Richfield, will be open at 9:30 a.m. for visitation. The funeral Mass will begin at 10:30 a.m. with a luncheon to follow. Burial will take place Tuesday at 4:00 p.m., at Elmwood-St. Joseph’s Cemetery, 1224 S. Washington Ave., Mason City, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers, Mary requested that all donations be made to the Twin Cities chapter of Habitat for Humanity. In a sealed envelope to her children to be opened upon her death, she left this message: “Keep on Dancing.”

Copyright © 2016, Gill Brothers Funeral Home, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Winnebago Obituaries maintained by Cheryl Siebrass.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen