Mary Ellen (Francisco) Schenck

Mary Ellen (Francisco) Schenck July 1, 1927 – January 26, 2025 (age 97)

After 97 trips around the sun, Mary Ellen has left us to continue without her. She spent all but the last year of her life in her hometown of Deer River. Mary Ellen Francisco was born, to Fred and Barbra (Hausen) Francisco on July 1st, 1927, at home on the farm in the Otenagen area. She was raised on the farm with a ½ brother, a ½ sister, 4 brothers and a sister. After grade school in the one room schoolhouse in Otenagen she attended High School and lived in the dorm at Deer River High School while working at Bill’s Café. She met her lifelong sweetheart Paul Schenck when he returned from Europe at the end of WWII. Mary Ellen and Paul were married on October 26,1946 until his passing in April 2016. She also worked at Bill’s Lunch, The Sportsman’s Café, and Miller’s Red Owl Grocery and Gift Shop. Over the years she was active as a Girl Scout Leader, a Cub Scout Den Mother, and taught Contact classes for Catholic youth. In her younger years she also helped with the cleaning of St Mary’s Catholic Church and helped in the kitchen at church events. At the same time, she and Paul raised 5 successful children and was known as “Grandma Precious” to her grandchildren. After retiring Mary Ellen and Paul traveled to many parts of the US and visited Europe a couple of times.

She loved gardening in her flower filled back yard, reading (especially mystery stories), crossword puzzles, and jigsaw puzzles. Except for gardening she continued these past times until her death even during her last year that she spent in memory care. Mary Ellen requested that she be interred at St Joseph’s Cemetery so she could be with her sisters again.

Mary Ellen was preceded in death by: Parents: Frederick and Barbra Francisco, Husband: Paul T. Schenck, Daughter: Janet E. Schenck, Brothers: Ted Franklin, Aurther Francisco, and Edward Francisco Sr. Sisters: Louise (Franklin) Swenson and Barbra (Francisco) Harper.

Survived by: Daughters: Mary F. Schenck – Haggberg and Paula A. (Schenck) Wiedewitsch (Jerry), Sons: John W. Schenck (Dawn) and Edward A. Schenck (Kim) 10 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren and 6 great, great grandchildren. Brothers Fredrick R. Francisco & Larry Francisco. Sister-in-law Geneva Francisco (Edward) and many nieces, nephews and friends. She loved you all dearly.

The Schenck family wants to thank all the caregivers at Homestead Nursing Home, Maple Woods Assisted Living in Deer River and Encore at Hugo for the compassion and love they showed our mother while she was in your care.

Memorial Visitation will be Wednesday Feb 5, 2025, at 10:00 AM St. Mary’s Catholic Church with the Funeral immediately following at 11:00.

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