Mary Diderich

DIDERICH, Mary Kirkpatrick (nee) Pavelich

Went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, January 21, 2018 at Essentia Health Care in Virginia, MN.

Mary was born on January 26, 1925, in the mining location town of Carson Lake, MN.  She was the youngest of 3 children, born to Croatian immigrants John and Zora Pavelich.  Mary was born at home in the living room, which also served as her parent’s bedroom. There was no running water in the home, and the family had chickens, pigs, and a cow in their backyard.

Mary was confirmed at the former St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Leetonia, MN prior to the church being relocated to Kelly Lake, MN.  Mary attended school in Carson Lake through the 8th grade, subsequently graduated from Hibbing High School in 1943, and went on to complete secretarial school at Hibbing Junior College.  She put her skills to use working in the Hibbing dental offices of both former Governor Rudy Perpich and Dr. Michael J. Skull.

Mary, a lifelong resident of the Hibbing area, was united in marriage to Donald J. Kirkpatrick on June 7, 1947 at Blessed Sacrament Church in Hibbing.  From this union, they were blessed with three children, Gayle, Craig, and Alan, that they lovingly raised in the Pill Hill neighborhood of Hibbing.  Donald died suddenly in 1978.  After some time passed, Ed Diderich began to court Mary, and ultimately proposed marriage.  They wed in 1982 and had many good times and adventures during their marriage, but sadly, Ed passed away in 1987.  Ed introduced Mary to golf at the Hibbing Country Club, which she greatly enjoyed.  Mary was also an exceptional Duplicate Bridge player.  She won and placed in numerous tournaments during her peak playing years.   She enjoyed playing with the bridge group at Realife Co-Op of Hibbing, and after she moved to Edgewood Vista Senior Living in the fall of 2016, Mary enjoyed playing with the Virginia Bridge Club.

Throughout her life, Mary was strong in her faith, and both an active member and supporter of Blessed Sacrament Church.  She was a dedicated and devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend.  Mary was a remarkable individual, with an amazing ability to accurately recall family history and details right up until her passing.  She kept her mind sharp and active by completing the daily New York Times crossword puzzle and teaching herself the game of Sudoku at the age of 85.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents, John and Zora Pavelich; her husband, Donald Kirkpatrick, and her second husband Ed Diderich; brother, John (Ann) Pavelich; sister Ann (Jim) March; stepdaughter Dianne VanderVelden; niece, Mary Susan March, and granddaughter, Sara M. Kirkpatrick.  Survived by her children, Gayle (Norman) Tuomi, Raleigh, NC, Craig (Barb) Kirkpatrick, North Oaks, MN, Alan (Kay) Kirkpatrick, Tower, MN;  stepdaughter Joanne (Dan) Lastavich, McGregor, MN; grandchildren, Erica (Pat) Grothaus, Mahtomedi, MN, Nicole (Todd) Jones, Raleigh, NC, Carla J. Kirkpatrick, San Diego, CA; 4 great-grandchildren, Jacob, Emma, Ericson, Nicolas; and very special nephews; John (Nancy) Pavelich, Louisville, CO; Jim (Leslie) Pavelich, Vail, CO.

Mass of Christian Burial 11:00 AM, Saturday, February 17th, 2018 at BLESSED SACRAMEMT CHURCH, Hibbing, MN.  Visitation will be one hour prior to Mass.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Blessed Sacrament Church, or the American Heart Association.  Private interment for immediate family will be at Maple Hill Cemetery, Hibbing, MN.  Arrangements are with Dougherty Funeral Home of Hibbing.