Service Information
Mary F. Ludowese, age 91, of Hutchinson, Minnesota, passed away on Friday, July 24, 2020, at the Christian Community Home in Hudson, Wisconsin.
A Private Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Anastasia Catholic Church in Hutchinson with interment in the Saint Willibrord Catholic Cemetery in Gibbon, Minnesota.
Please check back to watch the service on our website after the service.
You can watch the funeral service live on the St. Anastasia Catholic Community Facebook Page. https://www.facebook.com/St-Anastasia-Catholic-Community-348772100290/about/?ref=page_internal
Obituary
Mary Frances Ludowese was born on April 10th, 1929, in New Ulm, Minnesota. 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. Willbrord’s Catholic Church in Gibbon, Minnesota. 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, Minnesota, 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, Minnesota. 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.
Mary 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 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, Wisconsin, on June 1, 2020. She passed away there on Friday, July 24, 2020, at the age of 91 years.
Blessed be her memory.
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;
Greatgrandchildren, 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.
Dianne Rath says
I got to know Mary when I worked at school and she was the librarian. She was such a kind, soft-spoken person and always so good with the children. My sincerest sympathy to Ann and all the other children and family members.
Joan Bullemer says
God bless my Aunt Mary and May she Rest In Peace with all the saints and angels in heaven!! Love Joan Bullemer
Meridee Dobberstein says
Blessed to be a friend and colleague of Mary at BL Elementary. She was always ready for great conversation and laughter.
Andy Ludowese says
RIP Mary, you will be missed!
Ken and Eileen Kuttner says
Our deepest Sympathy to all of Mary’s family.
Anita Culp says
Jane, so sorry to hear about your mom. Thinking of you during this difficult time.
Anita (Greenman) Culp
Beverly Vandervorste says
My Uncle Clyde introduced me to Mary and Jim about 25 years ago. She shared her love of genealogy as I read her files on the Weivoda clan. The more she talked the more I wanted to hear. We will miss her. Peace!
Grace Chrast says
Our deepest sympathies to Mary’s family. She was a beautiful and gracious lady who will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved her. Our prays and thoughts are with you all.
Gene & Grace Chrast
Twyla G Waller says
Our deepest sympathies to all of Mary’s Families. Thoughts and prayers are with you all. Enjoy all your great memories.
Twyla & Chuck
Kim heikes says
I met Mary several times when she came to visit her husband. What comes to mind is more Jim, how he would sing his wife’s praises as he was nearing his final days. The love he felt for her after more than 60 years was something I wish I could have experienced. God’s blessings to the Ludowese family.
Allen Benusa says
I met Mary several times years ago when she needed help with her computer. Her computer had to be in tip top shape for her genealogy research. She was a joy to talk to. I’ll never forget Mary showing me the elaborate model railroad sets in the basement that Jim was building at the time.
Judy Suess says
Tom and Kathy and Family,
Sorry for your loss. Memories will live on in your hearts and minds forever. Thinking of you.
Larry and Judy Suess
Annette Dressel says
Our sympathies for the entire family of Mary. May your memories of her help you through this difficult time.
Dave and Annette Dressel
Peggy Patrick says
I hope Mary will find answers to all the ancestry questions in heaven! I will miss her letters and family stories. God bless her, and I’m sure we all have good memories to make us smile as we remember her.
Michelle (Eckert) Langer says
I had hoped to be at the cemetery. But I could not do as I planned. So I came back here to this site. What a blessing to read these wonderful things about your mom, my Aunt Mary. Each one is so true and how good it is to see the wonderful ways she was with other people. She sure was a good person to have in this world. I will miss her too. Thoughts and prayers to you as you remember her during these days ahead.
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart. I have overcome the world”. -Jesus.
Sheila Beuning Holt says
Tom, I just received your card and the Memorial Brochure today. Thank you for letting us know. Mary was a favorite friend of my Mother’s (Maureen Merrigan Beuning) and they shared such a love for genealogy. I remember fondly the great Corcoran Reunion they hosted at St John’s one summer.
Sheila Beuning Holt