Mary Skaj

Mary Darlene Skaj, 76, of Aitkin passed away peacefully at home on July 24th, 2025. 

She was Born on February 6th, 1949 to Florence Bebensee.  Mary was adopted as a toddler by Richard & Lorraine Hart. She and siblings Richard and Carol were raised lovingly by them in Bloomington and McGregor. 

She graduated from McGregor High School in 1967 and married Andy Skaj in October of that year. They settled in Aitkin and welcomed daughter Amy in 1968 and son Joseph in 1971. The pair were long-time supporters of the community and parishioners of Saint James Catholic Church where Mary was a church secretary and faithful catechist. 

A dedicated homemaker, Mary took great pride in caring for her family. Dinner was always waiting when Andy came home. They looked forward to retiring together after 40 years of marriage when he unexpectedly passed away in 2008 at age 67. 

Mary was a beloved mother and grandmother to 5 granddaughters. Daughter Amy married Dave Field in 1990 and first granddaughter Marissa was born in 1995, followed by Shaylee in 1999. Son Joe married Tawnya Hoffman in 2000 and Mary and Andy welcomed Shawnee and Kayla into their family. Final granddaughter Averie arrived in 2003. 

She was preceded in death by her dear husband Andy, parents, brother Richard and many cherished animals who brought her constant joy. Mary is survived by her children Joe (Tawnya) Skaj of Aitkin and Amy (Dave) Field of Indio, CA; Granddaughters: Shawnee, Kayla (Dakota Youngblood), Marissa (Taylor Maynes), Shaylee & Averie (Hawthorne Ramage); Sister-in-Law Patricia (Al) Melser of Cambridge and many others who will miss her dearly. 

Visitation will be 5-7pm Friday, August 1st, 2025 at Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home in Aitkin and will continue 1 hour prior to the service at the church.

Funeral Mass will be 11am Saturday,  August 2nd, 2025 at Saint James Catholic Church in Aitkin with Lunch to follow. Burial will be in Rabbit Lake Cemetery.  To leave a message of condolence please go to www.srtfuneral.com

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