Mary Xavier, 66, of rural Ellendale, Minnesota, died Jan. 28, 2019, at home under the care of her family and Hospice of Albert Lea five months after a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

Mary was born April 28, 1952, in La Crosse, Wisconsin, to Archibald Emmanuel Sokolik Jr. and Katherine Rebecca (Fauver) Sokolik. She and Joel Xavier were married on May 26, 1979.

Education, music, family, church, plants, collecting, and accounting all gave Mary joy in life. She attended country school in Long Coulee School rural Holmen, Wisconsin, graduated from Logan High School in La Crosse, from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, with a bachelor of music, and from Southwest Minnesota University with a bachelors degrees in accounting and a teaching degree in band, orchestra, and vocal music. Mary taught in different K-12 schools in Minnesota and South Dakota, including Blooming Prairie Public Schools and Hollandale Christian School. She earned her MBA from Capella University. Mary held different accounting positions through the years, most recently as an accountant for OSPA, the Office of Sponsored Projects Administration in the Mayo organization. Mary has been a part of many choirs, bands and orchestras, sometimes as the director. She was recently co-director of the Kasson United Methodist Church Choir. She was a member of the Austin Symphony Orchestra for 20 years, playing the oboe, bassoon, English horn, viola, violin and saxophone. Music was one part of Mary’s life of faith expressed through her being a part of Christ’s church wherever she lived.

Mary is survived by her husband, Joel; sons, Matthew of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, and John (Caitlin) of Verona, Wisconsin; sisters, Ann (Larry) Kosiba of Chicago, Illinois, and Phoenix, Arizona, Kathy (George) Jolivette of Oregon, Wisconsin, and Carol (Tom) Vanderpool of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; brothers, Archie of Ettrick, Wisconsin, Sam (Janet) of Holmen, Wisconsin, and Stanley of Galesville, Wisconsin; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and nephew, Brad Jolivette.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 301 Eighth Ave. NW in Kasson, Minnesota, with the Rev. David Efflandt officiating. The family will greet friends from 3-7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 1, 2019, at Czaplewski Family Funeral Homes, 801 Seventh St. SE in Kasson, and one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church.

If you choose to give a memorial gift in Mary’s name, the family suggests Austin Symphony Orchestra, St. John’s Lutheran Church Foundation, or the Bible camp of your choosing.