Mary A Kosel

Mary A. Kosel, 96, of Wahpeton, ND, passed away Sunday, March 17, 2024, at St. Catherine’s Living Center in Wahpeton under the care of CHI Hospice.  Her Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at St. John’s Catholic Church, Wahpeton, ND.  There will be a visitation one hour prior, and recitation of the rosary will begin at 9:15 a.m.  Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Wahpeton, ND.  Father Paul Kuhn will officiate the service.  Arrangements have been entrusted to Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton, ND.  

Mary Ann Formaneck was born June 22, 1927, in rural Wahpeton, ND, the twin daughter of Fred and Cecilia (Schmitt) Formaneck.  She lived on a farm north of Wahpeton, attended country school, and graduated from Wahpeton High School in 1945.  She was united in marriage to Richard Kosel on August 27, 1947, at St. Adalbert’s Church, Wahpeton.  The couple farmed in ND and MN. They were married for 66 years.  In 1948, their only child, Linda was born.

In 2008, they retired to the city of Wahpeton. After Richard passed in 2013, Mary moved to Siena Court where she resided for over 10 years. In January 2024, she moved to St. Catherine’s Living Center.  

For years, Mary had been an active of St. Adalbert’s Church Choir. She was known for her beautiful soprano voice. Later years, she was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church, choir, and Catholic Order of Foresters. Her faith in the Lord was always strong in all stages of her life.

Mary’s entire life can be summed up as living every day to its fullest with a positive, giving, and caring style. As a child, she enjoyed outdoor and farm related activities. Before marrying Richard, she worked at Rosemeade Pottery in Wahpeton.  Years following, she enjoyed ceramics, crocheting, knitting, and gardening. In addition to these activities, she was very engaged in various farming aspects: raising farm animals, all kinds of field work (driving all kinds of farm equipment, esp. her green combine), milking cows, and of course preparing three hearty meals a day.  A “good day” for Mary was one outdoor engaged in farm work.  While at Siena Court, she continued to be active: Bingo, Garbage – card games, puzzles, word search, and walks.  While spending many winters in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas, she enjoyed shuffleboard, ceramics, bean bag, long walks, playing cards and checking on the grapefruit orchard.   Throughout her life, she always had a positive attitude that all will be alright. At Siena Court and later St. Catherine Living Center, she had many wonderful memories of the staff and the care she received.  She expressed that she would not have changed a thing about her long life. Her frequent sayings were: “One day at a time” and “Take it or Leave it.”

Mary is survived by her daughter, Linda Patterson; brother-in-law Roy Kosel; sister-in-law Mary Kosel, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Cecelia Formaneck; her husband, Richard; a brother Harold Formaneck; Mary Formaneck, sister-in-law; sister, Lorene Ferguson; brother-in-law, Lloyd Ferguson; twin sister, Margaret Pausch; brother-in-law, Don Pausch; nephew, Fred Pausch; brother-in-law, Alvin Kosel; brother-in-law, Walter Kosel; brother-in-law, Ralph Kosel, sister-in-law, Mary Kosel, brother-in-law, Harold Gruenberg, and sister-in-law, Violet Gruenberg.

In lieu of flowers, Mary has requested that donations be made to CHI Health at Home, Carmel of Mary Monastery, or Benedictine Living Community.