Mary Ann Blaser

February 27, 1934 – Willow River, Minnesota; Mary Ann Dorthea Price (Blaser), currently of St Paul, came into this world accompanied by a twin who didn't survive; loss would be a theme of her life.

The youngest of 19 children, Mary Ann was shy and sensitive. She was profoundly affected by the loss of her mother at age 2. Her childhood was lost to grieving her Mom, and a 2-year hospitalization after a terrible accident at the tender age of 7; she would walk with a limp the rest of her life. 

Mary Ann enjoyed dancing the weekends away at Schleifs Little City with her sister Fran (what limp?), where she met Donald Blaser. They wed in June of 1959. Mary Ann and Don welcomed her first of four daughters the following March. In 1964 Mary Ann's youngest was born, and then there were four cute, rambunctious girls. Mary Ann, finding herself in the difficult position of being a single mom, set about teaching her girls that if you have love and stick together, things will work out. Surviving insurmountable odds became a bedrock of her life until she came upon the harsh and unbeatable foe, COVID-19. 

Mary Ann, a "the coffee is always on" kinda gal, was known for her generosity and kindness. She had a goofy, childlike sense of humor and liked to laugh. She was a friend to many, near and far, with hundreds of pen pals from all over the country. Once she met you via a pen-pal letter, she kept up with you always, remembering birthdays, anniversaries, sending cards (with fun and funky stickers) for all occasions and holidays. One of her friends called her the modern-day female version of Saint Francis de Sales, the Catholic patron saint of writing letters! 

Mary Ann's 4 daughters, Linda, Sue, Mary Beth and Jolene and her grandsons, Josh, Sam, and Antony were all present with her as she passed on Valentine's Day. A fitting day - as she truly enjoyed sending out valentines to her friends and family. 

Antony remembers Grandma handing out more candy than recommended by nutritional standards, as well as often slipping him and Sam some welcomed cash. Josh fondly remembers making ~and~ eating cinnamon rolls with Grandma. Sam says that watching “Home Alone” and baking and eating peanut butter cookies with Grandma is something he will hold with him forever. Mary Beth recalls Mom being a solitaire aficionado, hearing those shuffling cards late at night, the shuffling sound - a lullaby. Linda will tell you she danced with her mom listening to country western music, "I've got a Tiger by the Tail" and “Your Cheating Heart”.

Music helped her cope. Her hobbies were puzzles, crosswords, board and card games (her girls remember her canasta expertise), movies (at one point she owned every single "Ma & Pa Kettle" movie ever made) - music - always music, in additional to old time country music, she enjoyed hymns, "Old Rugged Cross" and "Ave' Maria", and anything by Daniel O'Donnell.  She loved Chinese buffets, talking on the phone with her friends, coloring with fancy pens, writing a complex family history and hundreds, if not thousands, of letters to pen-pals.  

Mary Ann also enjoyed her church family that she came to know at St. Rose of Lima. She liked debating her concerns about social justice and the role of the church with her friends. She did what she could to make a difference for people. She was generous and always willing to help someone in need. 

Mary Ann is survived by her daughters, Linda Gremillion, Susan Paisley, Mary Beth Blaser and Jolene Blaser; grandsons, Joshua Paisley (Mom Sue), Samuel Holloway (Mom Mary Beth) and Antony Cooper (Mom Jolene), as well as her brother, Martin Price of St. Paul; and nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews too numerous to mention by name and hundreds of friends near and far.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Casmir and Doris Price; husband, Donald Blaser; sisters, Anna, Leona, Helen Hyska, Stella Mach, Irene Peters, Frances Hyska, Berniece Scott, Baby Girl and Baby Twin to Mary Ann; and brothers, Daniel, Florian, Stanley, Frank, Raphael, Ernest, William, and Leo. Put the coffee on, Mary Ann will be having heavenly coffee and “chewing the fat” with her brothers and sisters for eternity. 

​Finally, offered for you, the quotes she had taped to her apartment door, "Glorify God, Follow Jesus, Love one Another, Invite Everyone” and “May the Lord Bless you for your kindness”.

At her bedside as she faced her death, a fitting ending prayer is "Hail Mary, Full of Grace" because she was. We chose the attached photograph from August of 1949 (she was 15) to share with you. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Rose of Lima, 2048 Hamline Ave N, Roseville, MN 55113, Friday, March 5, at 11:00 AM. Rosary at 10:30 AM. We regret we won’t be able to gather for visitation or lunch. Mass will be available remotely at saintroseoflima.net. Private interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery immediately following Mass. Those in attendance at Mass will be required to wear masks and practice social distancing.  

In lieu of flowers, we'd ask that you consider a charity of your choice. If you'd like to join her family, we're supporting her favorite hobby, Pen-Pals for Seniors at www.bringssmilestoseniors.com.