Mary Willaert

December 25, 1924 — July 20, 2017

Mary Willaert, age 92 of rural St. Peter, died on Thursday, July 20, 2017 at Oak Terrace Health Care Center in Gaylord.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 am on Tuesday, July 25th at the Church of St. Peter in St. Peter with Fr. Todd Petersen officiating. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, St. Peter. Visitation will be from 4:00 – 7:00 pm Monday at the church. St. Peter Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Mary Margaret Sanftner was born December 25, 1924 in Mankato to Paul and Ida (Ulmen) Sanftner. She was married to Robert Willaert on August 20, 1947 at All Saints Catholic Church in Madison Lake. Robert and Mary farmed in Mankato from 1947 to 1962. They moved to Lake Prairie Township in Nicollet County and farmed until retiring in 1992. Mary moved to Oak Terrace Retirement Center February 2012. Mary's first love was her husband and family. Mary was a devoted mother, wife, and a treasure to her family. She enjoyed gardening, baking, crocheting, knitting, sewing, quilting and reading.

Mary is survived by her children: Richard (Linda) of St. Peter, Jeanette (Pete) DeVlaeminck of Winthrop, Frances (Tom) Ziegler of Winthrop, Jerome (Kathy) Willaert of Gaylord, Robert Jr. (Jeanne) Willaert of Mankato, Mary (Wayne) Wallen of Palmyra, NE, Leona (Paul) DeVlaeminck of Gaylord, Raymond (Lori) Willaert of St. Peter, Helen Hager of St. Peter, John (Skyla) Willaert of St. Peter and Donna (Richard) Cummings of Vail, AZ; 35 grandchildren; 64 great grandchildren; two great great grandchildren; sister Marcella Branch of Minnetonka, sisters-in-law: Glenda Sanftner of Mora, Kay Willaert and Fran Willaert both of Mankato, and brother-in-law Leon Willaert of St. Peter; numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Robert, son-in-law Dick Hager, daughter-in-law Rita Willaert, granddaughter Jerri Neudecker; parents, brothers: Charles, Robert (Alvera), Paul, Russell, and Raymond (Lillian) Sanftner; sisters: Genevieve (Gerald) Connor, Lucille ( Bernard) Miller, and Rosella (Arthur) Branch; brother-in-law Herbert Branch and several of Robert's siblings and spouses.

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Mary Willaert

December 25, 1924 — July 20, 2017

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