Mary Phyllis Sovell, age 85, of Ivanhoe, MN, passed away on Saturday, November 8, 2025 at the Hendricks Hospital in Hendricks, MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 am Thursday, November 13, 2025 at St. John Cantius Catholic Church in Wilno, MN. Burial will be in St. John Cantius Catholic Cemetery, Wilno. Visitation will be from 9:00 am until 10:30 am on Thursday, November 13th at St. John Cantius Catholic Church in Wilno. Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel in Canby is entrusted with the arrangements.
Mary Phyllis (Pruszynski) Sovell passed away November 8, 2025 at Hendricks Community Health Center surrounded by loved ones. Mary was born February 5, 1940 in Tyler, MN, the daughter of Leon and Rose (Carr) Pruszynski. She lived in St. Paul before moving to Ivanhoe, MN. Mary graduated from Ivanhoe High School in 1958 and graduated from St Mary’s Nursing College in 1961, where she made lifelong friends with her “gals.” She married her high school sweetheart Jim Sovell on December 27, 1962 at St. Peter’s and Paul’s Church in Ivanhoe. Together they traveled to the many bases where Jim was stationed where she worked as a nurse in Oklahoma, Nevada, and North Dakota. To this union they were blessed with four children. Mary loved being a wife and mom. She was a woman of faith who served St. John Cantius Church in the Altar and Rosary Society, teaching religious education, and making quilts for the 4th of July raffle. Mary returned to her nursing career at the Minneota Manor. She also worked at Divine Providence in Ivanhoe and Hendricks Community Health Center in Hendricks. Mary was well known for her compassionate care, creating a fun work environment and a stickler for documentation. She enjoyed baking and cooking for her family. She had a secret baked bean recipe that was requested for family events. In her free time, she enjoyed sewing and cross-stitching, making many treasured items for her family. She loved babies and especially spending time with her grandchildren. She was an avid Minnesota Twins fan and enjoyed watching sports.
Blessed to have shared her life was her husband Jim of 62 years, children Beth (Dave) Lyon, Joe (Emily) Sovell, Amy (Mark) Askelson, and Sara (Josh Longino) Sovell. Grandchildren Zach (Shannon), Colton and Caleb Moorse; Matthew and Blake Askelson; and Josie and Justice Sovell as well as one precious great-grandchild Harrison Moorse. She will also be missed by her sister Catherine Pruszynski, brother and sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Carol Mae, son-in-law Steve Moorse, in-laws Harry and Emily Sovell, brothers-in-law Daniel and Eugene Sovell and sisters-in-law Renate and Velva Sovell.
The family would like to thank all those who visited Mary and provided support and care, especially Elaine Dreitz and Ellen Popowski and those at the Hendricks Community Health Center. Blessed be her memory.
