Mary Ellen Xavier April 28, 1952 – January 28, 2019 Share this obituary Sign Guestbook| Send Private Condolences| Send Sympathy Card Mary Xavier of rural Ellendale, MN died January 28, 2019 at home under the care of her family and Hospice of Albert Lea five months after a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Mary was born April 28, 1952 in La Crosse, Wisconsin to Archibald Emmanuel Sokolik Jr. and Katherine Rebecca (Fauver) Sokolik. She and Joel Xavier were married on May 26, 1979.
Education, music, family, church, plants, collecting, and accounting all gave Mary joy in life. She attended country school in Long Coulee School rural Holmen, WI; graduated from Logan High School in La Crosse; from University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, Bachelor of Music; from Southwest Minnesota University, bachelor’s degrees in accounting and a teaching degree in band, orchestra, and vocal music. Mary taught in different schools K-12 in Minnesota and South Dakota including Blooming Prairie Public Schools and Hollandale Christian School.
She earned her MBA from Capella University. Mary held different accounting positions through the years. Most recently she has been an accountant for OSPA, the Office of Sponsored Projects Administration in the Mayo organization.
Mary has been a part of many choirs, bands and orchestras, sometimes as the director. She was recently codirector of the Kasson United Methodist Church Choir. She has been a member of the Austin Symphony Orchestra for twenty years and in that orchestra has played oboe, bassoon, English horn, viola, violin, and saxophone.
Music is one part of Mary’s life of faith expressed through her being a part of Christ’s church wherever she lived. Mary is survived by her husband Joel, sons Matthew of St. Louis Park, MN; John (Caitlin) of Verona, WI; sisters, Ann (Larry) Kosiba of Chicago, IL and Phoenix, AZ; Kathy (George) Jolivette of Oregon, WI; Carol (Tom) Vanderpool of White Bear Lake, MN; brothers, Archie of Ettrick, WI; Sam (Janet) of Holmen, WI. Stanley of Galesville, WI, and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents and nephew Brad Jolivette. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 2, 2019, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 301 8th Ave NW, Kasson with Rev. David Efflandt officiating.
The family will greet friends from 3:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday, February 1, 2019, at Czaplewski Family Funeral Homes, 801 7th St SE Kasson, and one hour prior to the service at the church. If you choose to give a memorial gift in Mary’s name the family suggests Austin Symphony Orchestra, St. John’s Lutheran Church Foundation, or the Bible camp of your choosing. Blessed be her memory.
www.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
