Mary Hiett

Mary J. Hiett, age 90, of Faribault and formerly of Pekin, Illinois, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 5, 2013 at the Milestone Senior Living in Faribault.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Faribault with the Rev. Armand Boehme, officiating.

Visitation will be held at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory of Faribault on Friday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and for one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday. There will be a 6:30 p.m. prayer service at the funeral home on Friday.

In lieu of flowers, Mary's family requests donations be made to the Ronald McDonald House or to Trinity Lutheran Church in her memory.

Mary Jane McCullough, the daughter of George and Jane (Geddes) McCullough, was born on January 1, 1923 in Minneapolis. She attended Washburn High School and graduated with the class of 1941. While in high school, she also attended the McPhail School of music. Following high school, Mary continued her education at the University of Minnesota, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in music. Mary began her career as a teacher in Pekin, Illinois in 1956. She worked for the public school system for many years as both an elementary teacher and as a music teacher. Mary also enjoyed being a choir director for many churches over the years and also gave many piano lessons. In 1983, she retired and moved back to Faribault to be closer to family and friends. When she returned, Mary began voluntarily teaching English as a second language in the Faribault community.

Mary loved spending time at the family cabin on Lake Wabana north of Grand Rapids. It was there that she enjoyed spending time outdoors picking raspberries, learning how to make birch bark baskets and enjoying the simple things in life. She also loved to fish, reenact at various historical events and spend time at the River Bend Nature Center. Mary was also a co-author of a book of memoirs titled "Whispering Waters."

She is survived by her children, Dave (Sue) Hiett of Springfield, MO, Kathy (Ron) Malles of White Bear Lake and Donna Harrison of Deer River; her six grandchildren, Ann Frailey, Jesse Hiett, Ryan Hiett, Charles (Anna) Hiett, Breanna (Nick) Brown and Coralyn Malles; her sister, Patricia Creamer of St. Paul and many other nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Daniel and John "Jack" McCullough and by her grandson, Matthew Hiett.