Mary G. Paczkowski, 86, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away peacefully, holding her grandson Jonathon’s hand, and surrounded by her loving family on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, at Sacred Heart Care Center in Austin.

Mary was born Nov. 21, 1927, in Fairmount, North Dakota, to Matthew and Hattie (Krause) Meyer. She attended a country school in Fairmount, North Dakota, and began work at the Naval Air Station in North Dakota in her early teens. She was united in marriage to Clem Paczkowski on June 30, 1954, in North Mankato. They lived in Mankato, Albert Lea, settling in Austin in 1965. Mary began part-time work at Prinzings Garden Center and Gordy’s Super Valu. In the 1970s, Mary and Clem partnered with friends to open the Bixby Inn. After Gordy’s closed, Mary went to work for Jerry Kellogg at the Oak Leaf and Jerry’s Other Place. Everyone who knew Mary knew her passion was cooking and baking. Mary centered her life around her family and was a loving and caring mother. She was also an outstanding seamstress, sewing all her daughters’ clothes until they reached high school. In her later years, she enjoyed reading, watching football, and taking many trips to Vegas to visit her sister.

Mary is survived by her children, Roxann (Ted) Gilbertson of Austin, Monica Lukes of Austin, Penny (Danti) Osland of Cottage Grove, Carmen (Todd) Kjome of Lakeville, Patrick Paczkowski of Austin, and Theodore Paczkowski of Plymouth; eight grandchildren, Kris Gilbertson, Dan Gilbertson, Garrett Lukes, Michael Kjome, Jonathan Kjome, Matt Osland, Grey Orth, and Abbi Paczkowski; brother Tony Meyer of Fairmount, North Dakota; sisters, Agnes Ista of Colfax, North Dakota, Anna (John) Borchert of Faribault, and Rita (Al) Roberts of Las Vegas, Nevada; sisters-in-law Mary Meyer of Breckenridge, Minnesota, Kay Ann Meyer of Fairmount, North Dakota, and Trudy Meyer of Fargo, North Dakota; many nieces and nephews; cousins; and other relatives.

She was preceded in death by her husband Clem in 2002; her son-in-law Randy Lukes; her parents Matthew and Hattie Meyer; brothers, Cyril, Jim, Albert, Raymond, Gary, Danny and Darrell; sisters Phyllis, Geneva Baker; sisters-in-law Dorothy and Mary Lou Meyer; brothers-in-law George Ista and Ray Baker.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014, at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Austin, with Fr. James Steffes officiating. Inurnment will be in the Oakwood Cemetery, Austin. The Paczkowski Family will greet friends from 11 to 1 p.m. Wednesday at St. Augustine Catholic Church, prior to services. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the family in Mary’s memory. Services prearranged and performed by Worlein Funeral Home of Austin. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.