Mary Ann Penick

Mass of Christian Burial for Mary Ann Penick, of Spring Lake Park, will be held on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, at    11 am at the Church of St. Timothy 707 89th Ave. NE Blaine, MN.  Visitation at the church begins at 10 am.  Interment will follow in the Spring at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Milaca, Minnesota.

Mary Ann Denfeld Penick was born in 1930 in Pillager, Minnesota to Victor and Elizabeth Skrentny Denfeld.  The family moved around Central Minnesota before settling in Foley.  Upon high school graduation, Mary Ann moved to the Twin Cities for employment, meeting Clarence Penick through a singles group in the mid-1950s and they were married in 1958 in Foley at St. John’s Catholic Church.

The couple lived in New Brighton for over 20 years, raising four children:  Jeff, Clare, Jim and Steven.  In 1980, they moved to rural Milaca and, upon Clarence’s death in 1987, Mary Ann returned to the Twin Cities, settling in Spring Lake Park.  Mary Ann had a diverse career in office and clerical roles and was a dedicated volunteer, serving as an election judge and assisting at Unity Hospital’s gift shop and the Church of St Timothy’s.  At St Tim’s, she worked as a Befriender, visited the homebound, participated in STARS, and led prayer services at Clover Leaf.  Her faith guided her kindness and she touched many lives through her volunteer work.

Mary Ann took great joy in her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, actively involving herself in their lives.  She was known for her sweet treats and exceptional pie-making skills.  Her hobbies included walks in the woods, puzzles, and needlework.  Mary Ann is survived by her sister, Loretta Denfeld, OSF, in Little Falls; children Jeff (Nancy), Golden Valley; Clare Penick Bakken (Bob), Mazeppa; Jim (Vickie), Otsego; and Steven (Carmen), Cold Spring along with nine grandchildren Kathryn, Matthew, Brian (Steph), Bethie (Bradley), Cory, Jackie, Amanda, Jessica and Nicholas and five great grandchildren Natalie, Meredith, Liesel, Andrew and Abigail.

Mary Ann was preceded in death by her husband Clarence, parents Victor and Elizabeth, infant brother Robert, brothers Eugene and Tom, and sister Kathleen.

We wish to extend our sincere appreciation and thanks to everyone at The Beehive in Maple Grove and LifeSpark, who provided great care to Mary Ann in her final weeks.