Mary Miller

Mary C. Miller, age 91, of Blooming Grove Township, Waseca County, Minnesota passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 24, 2013, at her home.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, September 26, 2013, at 1:30 p.m. at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Waseca, MN, with Father Gregory Leif officiating. Interment will be held at the Calvary Cemetery in Waseca, MN

Visitation will be held at the Church of the Sacred Heart on Thursday, September 26, 2013, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Arrangements are being completed by the McRaith Funeral Home & Crematory of Waseca, MN.

Mary Catherine Sexton was born March 26, 1922, on the Sexton farm in Janesville Township, the only daughter of Frank and (Mary) Cora (McCarthy) Sexton. She grew up on the Sexton family farm on the east shore of Lake Elysian, and was active in the day-to-day operation of the Sexton farm and household. She attended school in Elysian and Janesville, graduating from Janesville High School with the class of 1941.

On Tuesday, May 25, 1943, at 8:30 in the morning she was wed to Eugene P. Miller. The marriage took place at St. Ann Catholic Church in Janesville, MN, with Fr. Frank English officiating. The young couple made their home on the Miller family farm northeast of Waseca where Gene grew up, living there until 1972 when they moved to the farm next door. Mary farmed alongside her husband, and was active with him in the National Catholic Rural Life Conference, the Church of the Sacred Heart, and in various social justice issues. She enjoyed keeping a beautiful home, her art work, and teaching her daughters. Mary painted for many years, using various mediums, but her favorite was the painting and firing of fine porcelain. She was a member of the International Porcelain Artists and Teachers, Inc. and the World Organization of China Painters. She often got together with friends or her grandchildren to paint.

Mary is survived by her daughters, Karen Roessler, Karel (Rollie) Norton, Sue (Jerome) Stangler, and Margaret (Gene) Gregor, all of rural Waseca; her 21 grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Sister Iria Miller, OSF of Assisi Heights in Rochester, MN; many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Gene on June 24, 2013; her parents and parents-in-law; one son-in-law, Richard "Dick" Roessler on August 5, 2013; one grandson; her brother; three brothers-in-law and four sisters-in-law.