Mary Xavier of rural Ellendale died Monday, Jan. 28, 2019, at home under the care of her family and Hospice of Albert Lea, five months after a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

Mary was born April 28, 1952, in La Crosse, Wisconsin, to Archibald Emmanuel Sokolik Jr. and Katherine Rebecca (Fauver) Sokolik. She and Joel Xavier were married May 26, 1979.

Education, music, family, church, plants, collecting and accounting all gave Mary joy in life.

She attended country school in Long Coulee School in rural Holmen, Wisconsin, and graduated from Logan High School in La Crosse. She also graduated from University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with a bachelor’s degree in music and from Southwest Minnesota University with a  bachelor’s degree in accounting and a teaching degree in band, orchestra and vocal music. Mary taught in different schools K-12 in Minnesota and South Dakota, including Blooming Prairie Public Schools and Hollandale Christian School. She earned her masters of business administration degree from Capella University. Mary held different accounting positions through the years. Most recently she was an accountant for the Office of Sponsored Projects Administration in the Mayo organization. Mary has been a part of many choirs, bands and orchestras, sometimes as the director. She was recently co-director of the Kasson United Methodist Church choir. She has been a member of Austin Symphony Orchestra for 20 years and in that orchestra played oboe, bassoon, English horn, viola, violin and saxophone.

Music is one part of Mary’s life of faith expressed through her being a part of Christ’s church wherever she lived.

Mary is survived by her husband, Joel; sons Matthew of St. Louis Park and John (Caitlin) of Verona, Wisconsin; sisters Ann (Larry) Kosiba of Chicago and Phoenix, Kathy (George) Jolivette of Oregon, Wisconsin, and Carol (Tom) Vanderpool of White Bear Lake; brothers Archie of Ettrick, Wisconsin, Sam (Janet) of Holmen, Wisconsin, and Stanley of Galesville, Wisconsin; and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents and nephew, Brad Jolivette.

A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 301 Eighth Ave. NW in Kasson. The Rev. David Efflandt will officiate. The family will greet friends from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday at Czaplewski Family Funeral Homes, 801 Seventh St. SE in Kasson, and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Memorials are preferred to  Austin Symphony Orchestra, St. John’s Lutheran Church Foundation or the Bible camp of the donor’s choosing.

Blessed be her memory.