Mary L. Pavek, age 88, of Hendricks, MN, passed away Sunday, February 16, 2025 at the Hendricks Hospital in Hendricks, MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 am Friday, February 21, 2025 at St. John Cantius Catholic Church in Wilno, MN with Fr. Brendan Rolling celebrating. Burial will be in the St. John Cantius Catholic Cemetery, Wilno. Visitation will Friday one hour prior to the service at the church. Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel in Hendricks, MN is entrusted with the arrangements.
Mary Pavek was born October 4, 1936 on the family farm in Royal Township, Lincoln County, Minnesota to Joseph and Leokadia (Pruszynski) Rybinski. She was raised there and attended Catholic School in Wilno, MN and then attended and graduated from Ivanhoe High School in Ivanhoe, MN. Following her education, she moved to Rochester, MN where she met Donald Pavek. On June 11, 1956, she was united in marriage to Donald Pavek at St. John Cantius Catholic Church in Wilno. They were blessed with five children. They lived and raised their family in Prior Lake, MN and in 1982 when Don retired, they moved to Hendricks, MN. They also spent 10 years in Arizona where they enjoyed the warm weather. Don passed away on July 5, 2017. Mary became a resident of the Hendricks Assisted Living before she moved to the Hendricks Nursing Home. Mary passed away on Sunday, February 16, 2025 at Hendricks Hospital at the age of 88 years, 4 months and 12 days. Mary was a member of St. John Cantius Catholic Church where she was baptized, received her 1st Holy Communion, was confirmed and married. She was an avid Minnesota Twins fan; enjoyed gardening and loved traveling where she collected salt and pepper shakers from the places they traveled. Mary loved her grandchildren and was proud that she was able to attend all 14 of their weddings.
Grateful for having shared Mary’s life are her children: Robert (Vivian) Pavek of Ivanhoe, MN, Donna (Tad) Schreiner of Prior Lake, MN; Jerry (Laurie) Pavek of Hendricks, MN, Joseph (Ann) Pavek of Ivanhoe, MN, and Roger (Laura) Pavek of Norwood Young America, MN; 14 grandchildren; 31 great grandchildren; two siblings: Agnes Rybinski, Ivanhoe, MN and Gene (Kathy) Rybinski, Hendricks, MN; sisters-in-law Kaleen Rybinski, Hendricks, MN and Joanne Pritchette of Alpena, MI; numerous nieces, nephews and many other relatives. She is preceded in death by her husband Donald; parents, Joseph F. and Leokadia; siblings: Hedwig Citterman, Raymond, Susanna, Irene, Anton, Bernard, Joseph A., Richard and Regina Rybinski; brother-in-law: Norbert Citterman; sisters-in-law: Carolyn Rybinski and Rosella Rybinski, and niece Julie Deslauriers.
