Obituary of Mary Elizabeth Hart

My beloved wife of 47 years, and our children’s loving mother, went home to be with God on March 29th after a courageous battle with cancer.  She was surrounded by her loving husband Jan; children Andrew, Isaac, Cambie, her baby Gage and son-in-law Aron. Also by her side were her three grandchildren Harley, Ali, and Colton who she loved with all her heart.

Mary was a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother who always put her family first. She spent the last few months with her best friend and sister-in-law Kris Hart. The last month of her life was spent with Jan, Cambie and Kris constantly by her side. 

On March 26th Mary was admitted to Riverwood Hospital in Aitkin due to pneumonia that would soon take her life. As we knew her time was fading, we immediately contacted the two boys who lived out of state. By the time our last son Andrew arrived she was so weak she could hardly move, but when he said “Mom, I’m here” a little smile came to her face and she struggled to open her arms. We knew she had been waiting for all of her children before she went home to Jesus.

Mary and her husband Jan made their home in Palisade for 42 years, where they raised their four children. She was a homemaker until all of the children had left the nest. She then went to work outside of the home at a few different jobs until she found her place at Golden Horizons Assisted Living in Aitkin. She loved helping and taking care of the residents, touched many lives and made many lasting friendships. She worked there until her health started to decline and she could no longer work. It hurt her deeply when she could no longer take care of others and had to let family take care of her.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents Robert and Mary Kern and sister Nancy Lautiger, all of Gilbert. She is survived by her sister Roberta Abson, brothers Bob (Barb) Kern and Michael (Tina) Kern, brother-in-law Jim Lautiger and many nieces and nephews.