Mary Primus

Mary Ann Primus, age 91 of Melrose, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, March 31, 2019 at her home in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, April 4 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport with Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating and Rev. Mitchell Bechtold concelebrating. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Melrose.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose.  Parish prayers will be held at 7 p.m. immediately followed by a rosary by the Christian Mothers and Catholic United Financial Wednesday evening at the funeral home.

Mary Ann Hellermann was born October 6, 1927 in Melrose Township, Stearns County, Minnesota to Henry and Rosina (Wessel) Hellermann.   Mary Ann completed through the eighth grade at a country school north of Melrose called the Hellermann school at that time.  On September 6, 1949 she was united in marriage to Urban Primus at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Melrose.  Mary Ann farmed with her husband five miles northwest of Melrose in Melrose Township and moved into town in 1986.  She then started cooking/catering for Jennie-O and ended up being the cook at most of the funerals at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.  Mary Ann was well known for being a great cook and was an excellent wedding cake and birthday cake maker for nearly 50 years.

She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose, Christian Mothers, and Sts. Bernard & Elizabeth Council. Mary Ann enjoyed quilting and embroidering, playing cards, bowling, volleyball, fishing, and spending time at the lake lot on Little Birch Lake.

Survivors include her children, Mike (Joyce) Primus of Melrose, Mark (Mary Ann) Primus of Grey Eagle, Roger (Laura) Primus of West Union, David Primus of Sauk Centre, and Lori (Tim) Mayers of New Munich; 11 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Henry Hellermann of Vadnais Heights, Elmer (Anna) Hellermann of Melrose, Roman (Bernice) Hellermann of Melrose, Dorothy (Alvin) Schneider of Melrose, Simon (Mary) Hellermann of Melrose, Roselyn (Pete) Lehner of Shakopee; and sisters-in-law, Kathy Elfering of Melrose and Rita Hellermann of Sauk Centre.

Mary Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Urban Primus on October 20, 1995; parents; brothers, Paul Hellermann, Norbert Hellermann, and Richard Hellermann; and sisters, Loretta Hinnenkamp and Marcella Frericks.

Serving as casket bearers will be Kurt Mayers, Jason Primus, Jonathon Primus, Josh Primus, Matt Primus, and Shawn Primus.  Cross bearer will be Ashley Lieser and scripture bearer will be Jennifer Middendorf.  Honorary bearers will be the Christian Mothers and Sts. Bernard and Elizabeth Council.  A eulogy will be read by Jonathon Primus and gift bearers will be Shannon Primus, Lindsey Middendorf, Dalton DeLoux, and Ethan Moon.  Mass server will be Bob Doyle and readers will be Shelly Primus and Jessica Primus.  Serving as Eucharistic Ministers will be Laura Primus and Jonathon Primus.