MaryAnn Gockowski

MaryAnn (nee Rondeau) Gockowski, age 74, passed away April 12, 2019, surrounded by her family at St. Therese of Woodbury from dementia.  MaryAnn was born on April 6, 1945 in St. Paul, Minnesota to Raymond and Mary (nee Minnichsoffer) Rondeau.  She attended Harding High School.  She met Joseph Gockowski, Jr. when she worked downtown at Woolworth’s and attended Rasmussen Business School. They were united in marriage on October 12, 1968.  MaryAnn and Joseph raised five children in St. Paul.  After over 22 years of service, she retired from Hill-Murray High School where she managed the Theater Department’s ticket sales and public relations and the Pioneer Trading Post.  She loved working with the students and staff members, helping out wherever she could lend a hand.  ​

MaryAnn was amazingly creative and loved to work with her hands. In her youth, she brought home a junky old bike, painted it, and rebuilt it. MaryAnn taught herself how to play the piano and loved to tickle the ivories. She played many pieces by memory. She mastered Polish papercutting. She loved sewing: making clothes, aprons, towels, and bibs. One of her favorite pastimes became embroidery; she could also knit. She was a wonderful cook and baker who also enjoyed gardening and re-growing the seeds of the flowers from the previous year.  Golf and bowling were her favorite sports. Above all else, her proudest accomplishment in life was her five children.  She was the most selfless and wonderfully supportive mother.​

MaryAnn is survived by her children, Joseph III (Maureen), Raymond, Anne Marie (Dave) Hastings, Bridget (Eric) James, and Thomas; grandchildren, MaryGrace, Peter, Joseph IV, Ashley, Brianna, Ryan, Catherine, Alexander, and Timmy; siblings, Richard Rondeau, Gerald (Bonnie) Rondeau, Dawain (Jan) Rondeau, Elaine (David) Fry, Beverly (Joe) Piermantier; sister-in-law, Jan Rondeau; sisters/brothers-in-law, Elizabeth (Don) Madison, Eleanor (Wil) Reisinger; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. ​

MaryAnn is preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Mary Rondeau; her husband, Joseph Gockowski, Jr.; brother, Stephen Rondeau; sisters/brothers-in-law, Barbara Rondeau, Evelyn (Joe) Gagne, and Josephine (Donald) Raway. 

​Mass of Christian Burial 10:00 AM Saturday, April 27 at THE CHURCH OF THE ASSUMPTION, 51 W. 7th St., St. Paul.  Interment Resurrection Cemetery.  Visitation 4-8 PM Friday 4/26 at MUELLER-BIES FUNERAL HOME-ROSEVILLE, 2130 N. Dale St at County Road B, and from 9-10 AM Saturday at the church.

​In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in memory of MaryAnn Gockowski to the Dementia Society of America by mail to PO Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901, or www.DementiaSociety.org/donate.