MARY L. STERNITZKY

MARY L. STERNITZKY

     Early Saturday morning, July 22, 2023, our mother, Mary L. Sternitzky, died at the Marshfield Medical Center-Neillsville. She was 81 years old.

     Mary was born Feb. 9, 1942, on the Pieper family farm in the town of Beaver, north of Loyal, WI, to her mother, Evelyn Fabian and her father, Mitchell Hubbard. After her birth, her mother returned to Milwaukee leaving Mary to be raised by her grandparents, Clara and Frank Pieper. Mary attended Loyal schools, graduating in 1960. She belonged to the Lutheran Church. Her first jobs were babysitting and later as a telephone operator for the Loyal Telephone Company. She met Gerald Sternitzky in 1960, and they married August 27, 1961, when she was 19 and he was 23. They raised one daughter, Rebecca, and five sons, William, Terry, James, Mark and Robert. They divorced in 1979. She also has two granddaughters, Tina and Amanda via son Mark and one great-grandson via Amanda. She continued to live in the Granton area and was involved in the Granton School Music Booster Club and her church. She entered assisted living in 2018 after a fall that resulted in a broken hip. She remained in assisted living until her death.

     Mary had many hobbies, including sewing and other crafting and was known for her baking, especially her cheesecakes and cookies that she loved baking for her family, friends and church. 

     While primarily a mother and homemaker she had a number of jobs outside the home, including a number of party-plan sales opportunities, including Christmas Around the World, House of Lloyd, Rubbermaid and others.

     She is survived by her children, William (Terresa), Terry, James (Linda), Mark (Donna), Rebecca (David), and Robert, grandchildren and great-grandchild. Also surviving are her uncle Rev. Frank Pieper and stepsisters, Patricia and Geraldine and stepbrothers, Dennis, Danny, James and Robert.

     A private family burial will be held.

     In lieu of flowers or monetary donations, the family asks that those that wish find a children’s charity to donate to in her name. She always said her children were the most important thing to her and there was always a special place in her heart for the youngest and littlest.

     Online condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.

     Gesche Funeral Home and Cremation Service is assisting Mary’s family with funeral arrangements.