Mary Christensen

Mary Christensen August 28, 1951 - May 13, 2011

Mary E. Christensen, age 59, of Faribault, died on Friday, May 13, 2011, at St. Mary''s Hospital in Rochester, following a courageous battle with ovarian cancer. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, May 18, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. at Divine Mercy Catholic Church, 139 Mercy Dr., Faribault. Interment will be at St. Edward''s Cemetery in Richland Township, Rice County. Visitation will be held at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory in Faribault on Tuesday from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. and on Wednesday for one hour prior to the services at the church. Memorials may be designated to the American Cancer Society for Ovarian Cancer Research and Education or Divine Mercy Catholic Church in memory of Mary. Mary Elizabeth McKay, the daughter of James and Alpha (Ostrom) McKay, was born on August 28, 1951 in St. Paul, MN. She graduated from Duluth Cathedral High School with the class of 1969. She married Norman (Chris) Christensen on September 4, 1971 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Faribault. Mary worked at Tempo and Brett''s prior to working at South Central College for about 18 years. From 2001 to the present she worked at Divine Mercy Catholic Church, currently as the Coordinator of Communion and Administration. Mary was at one time a Girl Scout Leader and devoted a tremendous amount of her time to Divine Mercy Church, greatly enjoying coordinating liturgy and weddings and her extended church family. She also loved to read, knitting, crocheting, entertaining, and summers to enjoy gardening and time by the pool. Spending time with her family and her grandchildren was special to her. She is survived by her husband, Chris Christensen of Faribault; daughter, Andrea (Bill) Sietsema of Faribault; son, Joey Christensen of Faribault; grandchildren, Carter and Rylee Sietsema; sisters, Marsha (Bill) McDonald of Faribault and Barb (Wayne) Shaske of Faribault; brother, J.D. Mackay of Colleyville, TX; her beloved dog, Auggie; and nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents.