Cover photo for Marian Mahoney's Obituary
Marian Mahoney Profile Photo
1912 Marian 2017

Marian Mahoney

May 20, 1912 — July 3, 2017

MARIAN MADELON NAFZIGER was born May 20, 1912 in Pipestone, Minnesota to Joseph and Nettie (Buell) Nafziger. When she was a little girl, her Uncle Lew nicknamed her “Scudelums”, which as later shortened to “Scude”. She was known as Scude for many years, but eventually decided to go back to Marian. She spent her childhood in Pipestone and Arlie and graduated from Pipestone High School in 1931. When she and her best friend, Mary Nash, were working at the grocery store on Saturday nights, they couldn’t close the store fast enough to go over to Hatfield to dance the last few dances before it closed. After graduation, she began her working career as a telephone operator. She married Wayne Dennis Mahoney on July 24, 1936, and their daughter Pat was born on August 6, 1939.

In 1950, Wayne, Marian, and Pat moved to Clear Lake, Iowa where Marian worked for the telephone company in Mason City and Wayne worked for the Mason City Globe Gazette. In good weather and in rain and snow, she walked to the highway corner, boarded the bus to work and back home, many winter days leaving in the dark of morning and returning in the dark of night. After 30 years with the telephone company, Marian retired and received a life membership in the Telephone Pioneers of America. She and Wayne moved back to Pipestone where they bought the house they rented before moving to Clear Lake. A decal of Bambi that Marian had placed on a bedroom closet door was still in place. In 2004, Marian sold her home and moved to an apartment at Ridgeview Estates where she enjoyed living for seven years. In 2011, at the age of 99, Marian fell, broke her arm and recovered at Good Samaritan Nursing Home. She made the decision to live there for the remainder of her life, where she enjoyed the various activities, playing cards and bingo, attending Bible Study, and watching the Minnesota Twins baseball games. She kept a schedule of games but always checked with Pat in the mornings to be sure she knew what time the game was being televised. For her 100th birthday in 2012, the Minnesota Twins sent her a birthday card signed by the players, a signed Rod Carew baseball card, Twins hat and tee shirt, and a book about the Minnesota Twins players. Her birthday was celebrated with many relatives and friends attending. On Monday, July 3, 2017 Marian died peacefully at the age of 105 years, one month and 13 days.

Marian is lovingly remembered by her daughter, Pat Block (Len); her granddaughters, Barbara (Jim Kohlruss), Margie Holmstrom, Deborah Fessinger, and Dyan Gennette (Mike) for the many memories she made for them and with them: small loaves of banana bread and sugar cookies that melt in your mouth, hand hemmed and embroidered tea towels, crocheted afghans, Hallmark ornaments, playing numerous games of Kings on the Corner, Double Solitaire, and Hollywood Rummy, sitting on the front porch, clipping coupons and even spinning on the kitchen floor (when everyone was younger!). She was known as Gigi to her great-grandchildren: Chelsi Duff (Cameron), Adam and Melanie Fessinger, Allison and Cate Gennette. Gigi made sure the grandchildren were given cards and taught how to play different card games at a very young age! Also surviving her are nieces and nephews Jim Jordan of Frederick, CO, Shirley Bartling of Sioux Falls, SD, Sharon Nelson of Pipestone, MN, Dennis (Renae) Hoekstra, Duane Gray, Twin Valley, MN, Don and Duane Gray, and Marjorie (Cecil Hanson) Moorhead, MN, Ralph (Marilee) Thoreson of Zimmerman, MN, Carol (Gary) Witte of Regent, ND, and Nancy (Gary Weflen of Plentywood, MT.

Marian is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Wayne; four sisters, Florence Jordan, Dorothy Gray, Billie Hoekstra, and Gladys Thoreson; great-granddaughter, Shawna Wiggins; grandson-in-law, Mike Holmstrom; and nephews, Jack and David Gray and Jerry and Robert Hoekstra.

To send flowers to the family in memory of Marian Mahoney, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Friday, July 7, 2017

1:00 - 2:00 pm (Central time)

Good Samaritan Communities of Pipestone - Chapel

1311 North Hiawatha Ave., Pipestone, MN 56164

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Funeral Service

Friday, July 7, 2017

Starts at 2:00 pm (Central time)

Good Samaritan Communities of Pipestone - Chapel

1311 North Hiawatha Ave., Pipestone, MN 56164

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Burial

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