Mary Monrean, 83, of International Falls, Minn., died Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, at Falls Good Samaritan Center, International Falls, with her family by her side.

Memorial services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at Evangelical Covenant Church, International Falls, with Pastor Eric Marx officiating.

Following cremation, interment will be at Birchdale Cemetery, Birchdale, Minn., under the direction of Cease Family Funeral Home of Blackduck.

Honorary urn bearers will be her grandchildren, Darcy, Annie, Jaci, John, Steven, Michael, Kevin, Dani, Randy, Todd and Stephanie.

She was born Dec. 25, 1925, in Roblin, Manitoba, the daughter of Julian and Annie (Basaraba) Welechenko.

She moved to Fort Frances, Ontario, when she was 3 years old and she attended school there.

She married John “Jack” Monrean on May 21, 1944 in International Falls. She lived in the area most all her life except for a short time in Florida when Jack was in the United States Navy.

She was a homemaker until her children left home. She then worked as a waitress at Island View Resort and also at the Rex Hotel for many years. She also shared a restaurant business with her sister, Minnie.

She enjoyed ceramics, crocheting, gardening, making homemade Petaha and cabbage rolls which she sold them, playing Bingo, and spending time at their place in Birchdale.

She loved spending time with family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She lived the last six months at the Ridgeview Assisted Living in International Falls.

She is survived by her five children, Dennis (Shellie) Monrean of International Falls, Minn., Judy (John) Plasky of Fort Frances, Ontario, Beverly (Dani) Lind of Cannon Falls, Minn., Randy (Carole) Monrean of Florence, Mont., and Steven Monrean of Birchdale, Minn.; a sister-in-law, Gladys Welechenko of International Falls, Minn.; 11 grandchildren, Darcy (Dan) Tolbert Breckenridge, Minn., Annie (Jamie) Dahl of International Falls, Minn., Jaci ( Mike) Klaphake, of Crystal, Minn., John (Dawn) Monrean of International Falls, Minn., Steven (Kris) Plasky of Alexandria, Minn., Michael (Nora) Plasky of Fort Frances, Ontario, Kevin Lind (Des) of Cannon Falls, Minn., Dani Lind (Jen) of Randolph, Minn., Randy (Theresa) Monrean Jr. of Anchorage, Alaska, Todd (Katherine) Monrean of Eugene, Ore., and Stephanie Monrean of California; and 25 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Minnie Kittelson; a brother, Steve Welechenko; and a granddaughter, Wendy Monrean.

Messages of condolence may be sent to ceasefuneralhome.com.