Mary Elizabeth Jore, 62, of Houston Minn., passed away on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at home, surrounded by her loving family.
Mary Elizabeth Jore was born March 27, 1963, in La Crosse, Wis., to Richard and Doreen (Gleason) Brostrom. Mary grew up in La Crescent, Minn., and graduated from La Crescent High School in 1981, being voted “Most Humorous” by her classmates. Mary began her lifelong journey of caretaking with Houston County Group Homes, where she worked for nearly 15 years. She especially enjoyed working as one of the initial employees for the In-Home Family Support program. Mary changed paths to complete cosmetology school and worked in Houston’s own Snow’s Beauty Salon. Mary met her husband Doug in 1991 for a blind date and they married June 20, 1992. Mary and Doug had four children: Rachel, Joe, Bree and Therese. Never moving far from home, Mary built herself an extensive community in the Houston area. Later in life, after raising hers and many other children, Mary did more work with adults and those on hospice. She loved volunteering, volun-telling, and spending time in her many flower gardens, getting less than adequate help from her kids and husband. Mary navigated living with cancer for three and a half years and passed away August 14, 2025.
Mary is survived by her husband Doug and children Joe (Meredith), Bree and Therese. She is also survived by her parents Dick and Doreen Brostrom, and siblings John (Deb) Brostrom, Jeff (Diane) Brostrom, Dick (Sarah) Brostrom, Jenny (Jerry) Brown, and brother-in-law Scott Romane.
She is preceded in death by her daughter Rachel and her sister Susan.
Caretaking was Mary’s calling, and her fondest memories came from loving and nurturing children in her community and over 100 foster kids. In light of this, Mary requested that all memorial donations go to the Houston (MN) Public Library’s Summer Reading Program. Checks can be made out to “Friends of the Library.”
There will be a visitation on Sunday, August 24 from 1-3 p.m. at the Cross of Christ Stone Church and a memorial service to follow. The church will provide a live stream of the memorial service.
Hoff Funeral Home Houston is assisting the family. Please visit www.hofffuneral.com to leave an online condolence.
Chuck Paulson says
Doug and Family,
I am so sorry for your loss. Mary will live on in the hearts of many.
mark scheevel says
doug and family, donna and i were so blessed to have known you and mary. she was a sparkplug and yet she had very deep feelings and conviction. we met both you and mary at a very low time in each others lives. we built our feelings from that period and helped each other to move on. i will always have great feelings for mary and doug. you have our deepest condolences. donna and mark
Janine Holter says
I met Mary once. I left that meeting uplifted by her humor and positive outlook. Fly on Mary, touch the stars.