Jeanne Mason

Jeanne Marie Mason (née Cunningham), 89, went home to her Lord Jesus Christ on the
afternoon of October 9, 2016, surrounded in love by her family in Fridley, MN.
Born in Cleveland, OH in 1927, Jeanne grew up in Northeast Minneapolis. She attended Edison
High School, was an active skater in the Ice Follies, and enjoyed summers with her cousins on
their farm outside of Minneapolis. In 1948 she began 54 years of marriage with Jim Mason.
After 10 years of working together on the railroad, they started their family, firmly setting down
roots in Spring Lake Park in 1961. Never content to just live in the community, Jeanne was
determined to make a difference. She was one of the first employees of Unity Hospital, served
on the school board in the 1970s, leading up to what became the first of nine terms of public
service to the city as its first female council member and a very active leader in Parks and
Recreation.
Among her greatest passions in life was her support of OEC (Opportunities in Emergency Care),
where she served as mentor for several decades, traveling all over the country in support of
teens interested in pursuing careers in emergency medicine.
Jeanne was an active member of the choir at Salem Covenant Church, Senior Queen of the
Minneapolis Aquatennial, a thespian with a passion for two community theaters, a gardener, a
musician, and above all, a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Nearly impossible to capture in words is the impact that Jeanne had on everyone who knew her.
Known to many simply as "Ma," she filled the world with hearty laughter, kindness, and
good-natured humor. She was a working mother who rarely found an idle moment, but still
managed to make time for her family. Her light shone upon all who knew her and her legacy will
continue on for many, many decades to come.
She is survived by her children, Joy, Jon (Marion) and Jil, her grandchildren (Jamie, Jeannie,
Jim, Jenni, Allison, Justin, Willie, Nick, Jodi, Sam), and her great-grandchildren (Sondra, Sara,
Samantha, Jaeda, Danica, Lexi, Jalen, Celeste, Malikai, Jude, Jonah, Jon). She joins her
husband Jim and grandson Jon in heaven.
The family warmly invites the community to join a Musical Memorial in her honor, held at Salem
Covenant Church, 2655 5th St. NW, New Brighton, MN 55112. A visitation will be held from 9am
– 11am, followed by a memorial service at 11 am with a lunch reception to follow.