Mary Coudron

Mary (Stassen) Coudron was born on January 6, 1919, in Minneota, to Michael and Alida (Claeys) Stassen. She grew up on a bee and orchard farm near Minneota and graduated from Minneota High School. Mary took a job for a local physician using her short-hand skills to record patient histories. She later worked for the Minneota Bank. On April 2, 1945, she was united in marriage to August Coudron at St. Edward Catholic Church in Minneota. The couple farmed and raised their family East of Marshall in Lyon County. When the children were attending Holy Redeemer School, Mary worked at the school as an office assistant. She later worked for the Lyon County Independent Newspaper, and for 11 years she worked at the Court House in the Office of the Registrar of Deeds. Volunteerism was very important to Mary. She helped to establish the Weiner Memorial Thrift Shop where she continued to volunteer for several years. She also volunteered at the Lyon County Food Shelf and belonged to the Catholic Daughters’ of America and the Holy Redeemer Ladies’ Guild. Mary also loved history. This passion was evident through her work in the Court House, and through her love of stamp and coin collecting. She also enjoyed crocheting, crossword puzzles, quilting for her grandchildren and tending to flowers. Mary died on Thursday, December 18, 2008, at the Prairie Home Hospice House in Marshall. She is survived by her children; Paul (and Jill) Coudron of Dayton, OH, Philip (and Eunice) Coudron of Richmond, VA, Grace (and George) Seroka of Detroit, MI, Thomas (and Lynne) Coudron of Columbia, MO, 13 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, and sisters Cecilia, Dorothy and Katherine. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband August, brother Harry and sister Helen.