July 28,1940 – March 4,2023
Beloved wife and mother, Mary C. Jennings, age 82, passed away peacefully on March 4, 2023 while in Hospice Care at Bethany Nursing Home in Waupaca after years of severe
physical trials and tribulations.
Her suffering culminated in a short but fatal bout of aggressive and painful cancer. She had spent 10 years in a wheelchair. Jerome, her husband of 53 years, was holding her hand as she transferred to Jesus and went to Paradise. She was a lady of strong and consistent faith in her Lord, Jesus Christ, as her leader and Savior. She was always regular in church attendance and bible classes.
Mary was born to William and Mary Ann Suckow on July 28, 1940 in Wausau, Wisconsin. A member of the church from a very young age, she advanced from baptism to Sunday school, to confirmation, along with regular church attendance with her family. She then attended Lincoln High School in Wisconsin Rapids, and after graduation went on to college, where she received a B.S. degree in Education and then a M.S. degree. She was a born teacher and loved little children. Soon she became a licensed teacher and worked in that vocation for the majority of her life. She spent 13 years in the parochial system where she included religion in every curriculum.
Mary loved kids, especially young ones, and spent most of her adult life teaching them how to read, do math, learn geography, enjoy the Weekly Readers we had back then, and teach them to write their then-standard letters and numbers. She was always kind, compassionate, and caring. Her strongest suit was teaching grades one to four where she was a beloved teacher and was very successful at her work. Her feelings for the students were strongly returned by them. The kids loved her, as did the parents, and to get in her room was continually sought by families for their kids. If one of her present or previous students saw her in the store or church, they would run up to her, grab her skirt, and say something nice about how glad they were to see her. Yes, she was truly a beloved teacher. She had the education and special gifts to thrive in her chosen occupation. She became a Reading Specialist to open young eyes to the world of printed words. Even now, if a previous student sees her, special words are spoken about her, such as, “She taught me how to read.” What could be more meaningful for any teacher?
Now that Mary has passed into the arms of our Lord, and although this is the end of Mary’s physical life on Earth, it is the beginning of an eternal, beautiful, and pain-free life with God in heaven. She is survived by many loving family members and friends, including her husband, Jerome Jennings, two sons, Andrew (Goldi) Jennings and Bradley (Melissa) Jennings, a sister Joy (Peter) Rogoski, and brother, Mark (Marla) Suckow, and many others.
Her hobbies were watching T.V. (especially Johnny Carson and home design and improvement channels), gardening, home decorating, and earlier in life, swimming (she was a certified life guard), boating, bicycling, hiking, and traveling. The funeral is at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Stevens Point at 1l a.m. on Saturday, March 25. Visitation is also at the church from 10-11 a.m. A luncheon in the church will follow the service. Contributions or flowers in her memory may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church, 1919 Wyatt Ave., Stevens Point, WI 54481.
In John 3:16, we remember that “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Mary believed!
The family gives special thanks to the staff of Bethany Nursing Home and Hospice Care for the kind, capable, and caring attention given to Mary while in their care. Holly Funeral Home in Waupaca, WI assisted the family with arrangements.