With great sadness we announce the death of Mary Topka Lathrop, age 83, who passed away at her home on April 22 after a short illness. 

Mary was a teacher—by nature and by profession—and she taught English in the Minneapolis Public Schools for over 30 years. Along the way she touched the lives of countless students, helping them gain confidence in their gifts and abilities, all the while utilizing her own: a quiet patience, a captivating manner of speaking, and a willingness to sit side-by-side with a student until the lesson was learned. She used these skills as she taught each of her grandchildren to read, small children leaning against her on a sofa.

In her career, she leaves behind a great legacy: the Roosevelt Foundation—a scholarship program she co-founded that has helped thousands of students, and the lifelong friends she made: passionate educators who shared her grounded sensibility, and keen sense of humor.

Above all, Mary dedicated every day of her life to helping her daughters and their families with every project, challenge, or interest they encountered.  She fostered a special relationship with each of her grandchildren and worked to nurture their individual gifts and characters. 

As her family now mourns her loss, we reflect on her early life and her childhood home: a small raspberry farm near Hopkins, MN, where books were her first friends, and where she first learned the role of caregiver to her beloved younger siblings. We were incredibly lucky she cared for us. 

Mary was preceded in death by her parents Raymond and Lucille Topka and her sister Jeanne Topka.  She is survived by her brother, Richard Topka, her sister-in-law Rita Topka, her daughters JoAnne Sousa and Sara Lathrop, her sons-in-law Lucas Sousa and Mark Ehling, her grandchildren Soren and Everett Ehling and Victor and Sofia Sousa, and her niece Rachel Topka (Tyler). 

 A celebration of life will be held Friday, May 15, 2026 at 11:00 am with visitation 30 minutes before service in the chapel of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 6820 St. Patrick's Lane, Edina MN 55439.  Any memorials can be made to the Roosevelt High School scholarship fund at roosevelthighfoundation.org