Mary L. Phillips, 97, Owatonna

Mary L. Phillips of Owatonna died Jan. 15, 2021 at Homestead Hospice House in Owatonna.  Mass of Christian Burial is set for Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021 at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Owatonna. Interment will take place at Corpus Christi Cemetery. Friends may greet the family on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021 from 4 - 6 p.m. at the Brick–Meger Funeral Home in Owatonna and one hour prior to the funeral mass on Thursday at the church. A Medford/Deerfield Catholic Daughters of America Rosary will be recited at 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home and an additional rosary will be recited at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday at the church. It will be required that all participants follow the COVID-19 guidelines, wear a mask and the family requests social distancing.
Mary was born Oct. 8, 1923 in Little Falls, the daughter of Otto and Veronica (Mohr) Trettel.   Mary attended Little Falls High School and graduated in 1941. After high school, Mary attended business school in St. Cloud, then went to work for the Morrison County Attorney’s Office for a few years. Mary then went to Washington, D.C. to work for the Red Cross. She returned to Minneapolis to enroll at the University of Minnesota, St. Paul campus to receive her associates degree. Mary worked at the Veteran Service office at the University of Minnesota in the Civil Service Office. 
Mary was united in marriage to Eldred on Dec. 27, 1949 in Little Falls. The couple made their home in Deerfield Township to raise their family of four. Mary was a farmwife along side her husband Eldred while raising the children. She worked in all aspects of the farm, helping wherever was needed. 
Mary was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America of Medford/Deerfield Court, League of Women Voters, music guild of Owatonna. She volunteered for Contact, played piano for local nursing homes and sang in the choir at St. Joseph Church. Her hobbies included gardening, cooking and canning. 
Mary will be missed by her children Catherine (Larry) Glovka of Owatonna, Carol (Charlie) Anderson of Meriden Township, Michael Phillips of Deerfield Township, Rosemary (James) York of Lake Wilson, Minn.; 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren; and her sister Florence Mayer of Monticello, MN. 
Mary was preceded in death by her husband Eldred, two sisters and two brothers.
Memorials may be directed to St. Joseph Church or St. Mary’s School. If you are unable to attend you may view a live stream of the service on St. Joeseph’s Facebook page. For more information or to leave a condolence message go to www.megercares.com.