Mary Jo (Pease) Boland was reunited with her husband Harlan on Saturday, August 15, 2020.
Born May 30, 1936, Mary Jo grew up outside of Chatfield, Minn., where she learned to fish, hunt, and enjoy the outdoors. She married Harlan Darrel Boland September 23, 1954, at the Cherry Grove United Methodist Church. They eventually settled down outside Cherry Grove, Minn., on the Vrieze family farm. They had three children… who had children… who had children… who had a child. (If you are following that, she was a great-great-grandmother!)
Mary was known for her outstanding skills in the kitchen. She always had fresh baked goods and a cup of coffee waiting for whoever stopped by. Her chocolate cupcakes with brown sugar frosting were a favorite. Each year she would make special treats for the classmates at school, including their own heart shaped cookie with their individually iced names, and little egg-shaped cakes with piped edging and topped with Easter animals. At Christmas she would make huge plates of holiday cookies and candies and deliver them to friends and family.
She spent weeks at a sewing machine creating a full wardrobe for Barbie, from a fur coat to a flowing wedding dress. You’ve never seen a more fashionable Barbie, even by today’s standards!
The house was always open to others. It was often a place of celebration after softball games or a summer getaway for nephews and relatives. There was always a cold beer in the fridge.
After the children grew up, Mary Jo became a home health provider for residents of Fillmore County. She was very fond of the people she cared for and prided herself on helping them to live better lives.
She continued to fish with a cane pole throughout her life. She imbedded her love of the outdoors in her children through numerous camping trips and spending time in the “Back 80” where grandkids would learn to shoot a gun or use a bow and arrows, fish in the stream, catch crayfish, and climb rocks.
In later years she maintained a key interest in the love-lives of her granddaughters, providing clothing, hair, and makeup tips. She loved it when they would bring her baked goods… especially chocolate cupcakes with brown sugar frosting.
Memorial services for Mary will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 22 at Cherry Grove United Methodist Church. Visitation will be held from 2-3 p.m. at the church prior to the service. Burial will follow in the Cherry Grove Cemetery. Due to COVID-19 regulations, masks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.
Online condolences can be left at Hindtfuneralhome.com
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