Mary Wedin

Mary Jean Wedin, age 68, of Faribault, died peacefully on Sunday, October 10, 2010, at the District One Hospital in Faribault with her family at her bedside, due to complications from Kidney failure.             Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, October 14, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. at the Divine Mercy Catholic Church, 139 Mercy Drive in Faribault with the Rev. Erik Lundgren, officiating. Interment will be held at the Meadow Ridge Memorial Park, Faribault.             Visitation will be held at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home in Faribault on Wednesday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and at the church on Thursday for one hour prior to services.             Mary Jean, the daughter of Bernard and Anna (Maas) Carpenter, was born on February 8, 1942 in Faribault, MN. She graduated from Bethlehem Academy High School with the class of 1959. On May 28, 1960, she married the love of her life, Marvin Wedin at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Faribault. Mary Jean did not work outside of their home, but rather, opened it up to different children over the years for childcare. She really enjoyed having children around her and she continued this work for many years.             She loved birds and collecting different forms of art depicting them. She enjoyed traveling. Spending a week at a cabin on a lake in northern Minnesota with her family was her idea of a perfect vacation. She was a tremendous cook and thoroughly enjoyed being in her kitchen. She took great pride in her cooking and baking. Above all else, she loved being with her family. She was so happy to become a Grandma. She attended as many choir concerts, ball games, dance recitals and plays as she could. She absolutely loved her grandkids and they adored her. She treasured the family meals. Sunday gatherings and parties that would allow her to be surrounded by them.             As she became ill, her body grew weak, but her spirit did not. She was deeply religious and relied on her faith to get her through the days that were especially hard. Marvin was always there for her too. He was her constant support. He was also her primary caregiver as her illness progressed and he wouldn't have had it any other way. He was devoted to his "Birdie" as he always called her.             Mary Jean is survived by her loving husband of 50 years, Marvin Wedin of Faribault; by two daughters, Melissa (Randy) Meyer and Michelle (Ross) Wilson, both of Faribault; by five grandchildren, Hayley and Shelby Meyer and Erik, Tyler and Alec Wilson; by two sisters, Pat David of Northfield, MN and Janice Borgstahl of Faribault; by two brothers, Roger Carpenter of Faribault and Kenneth (Pat) Carpenter of Woodbury, MN and by many nieces and nephews.             She was preceded in death by her parents and four brothers-in-law, Glenn David, Dan Borgstahl, Aaron Wedin and Orville Wedin.