Mary A. Hessefort's Obituary
Mary Alice (Southworth) was born in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin on January 27, 1936. She was the daughter of Claire and Agnes Southworth. They moved to a family farm in Owen, Wisconsin at an early age. She was a baton majorette in high school and often twirled her baton to her children’s amazement. She was heavily 4-H growing up and had stacks of ribbons for the county fairs she won prizes at. She graduated from Owen High School in 1954. She had determination to get out on her own and moved to Marshfield and worked at a shoe factory. She met Lee Hessefort at a roller-skating rink in Dorchester, WI and they married October 5, 1955. Mom’s love of roller skating was shared with her four children with frequent trips to the indoor roller rink. After marriage Mary briefly helped her husband run a bottling works in Medford Wisconsin.
In 1962 they moved to Oshkosh and she helped Lee run a diner “tastee freeze” on Wisconsin Avenue. She worked at Oshkosh B’ Gosh overall factory doing piece work. She worked 20 years at the Roxy Supper Club. She finished out her working career, working for 20 years at the UW-Oshkosh Food Service. Retiring at age 70 in 2006. She met lifelong friends in both jobs and enjoyed eating out and reunions. In retirement she enjoyed friendship of her friend Mike and they traveled to China, Alaska, The Panama Canal, Italy, Montana, Western United States, train trips and more. She was devoted to her family and enjoyed family gatherings. She loved especially her large extended family and her grandchildren. She was involved in the Oshkosh City Choir, her church, teaching Sunday School, loved to golf, bike, travel, fix and tinker with things around her home of 50 years. In August of 2020 she moved to Madison Wisconsin to live with her daughter.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Lee, two sisters Charlotte (Bolz), Bernice (Guerten) and three brothers Don, George and Jim Southworth.
She is survived by her daughter Joyce Hessefort, sons Norbert (Yin) Hessefort, John (Susan) Hessefort, and Raymond (Lori) Hessefort. Grandchildren Alicia, Kate (Stephan), Lauren, Melissa (Dan), Alex (Hope) and Andrew. Three great-grandchildren, Wade, Addison and Rosalyn. Brothers John, Dan and Dennis Southworth, plus many more nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.
Funeral Services will be held on Thursday May 13, 2021 at St. Raphael’s Catholic Church, 830 S. Westhaven Dr. Oshkosh WI. 54904. A Rosery service will be held at from 9:00-9:30. A visitation will take place from 9:30 AM until the time of service. Funeral Services will take place at 11:00 AM, Thursday May 13, 2021 at the church. Interment will take place at Lake View Memorial Park, in Oshkosh, immediately following the Funeral Service.
The Funeral Service for Mary will also be live streamed online. Link: https://youtu.be/9XR2mh5PBCo
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