Mary Elizabeth Kundrat

Mary Elizabeth Dowling Kundrat, died February 14, 2011, surrounded by her loving family. She was born in 1927, daughter of Loretta & Fenton Dowling. Mary grew up in St. Louis, Minneapolis & Kansas City. Mary was an accomplished speed skater & an active volunteer for the Red Cross Canteen during WW II. Mary attended college at St. Catherine in Minneapolis & Drake University in Des Moines. While at Drake, she met George Kundrat, a WW II Marine & basketball athlete from Hammond, IN, who attended Drake through the GI Bill. They married & after graduation moved to Jefferson, where they each had teaching positions in the area. Because, or whatever reason, a wife & husband could not teach in the same school district, George taught science at Jefferson while Mary taught English in the Cooper School, nine miles away. Mary became a full time homemaker after their third child, Patricia, was born. Since Mary was an urban product, her experience with rural life was limited. She learned to bake, can, & put up all types of produce, & she thanks her friends in Jefferson for these skills. She was never without a book. One of her favorite literary pastimes was reciting poetry. Saturday library visits were always a treat for her children. Mary & George had six children. Mary was pregnant with their youngest, Susan, when George died suddenly of complications from brain surgery at the age of 42. Mary returned to teaching after George's death, & taught English & Literature for many years in the East Greene & Jefferson Schools. She was active in the Association for Retarded Children of Greene County from its inception, St. Joseph's Catholic Peace & Action Committee, Greene County Democrats, & literacy & poverty efforts of many kinds. Her first love was watching her children play their many sports, both in high school & college. Mary & George made many close friends over the years, & enjoyed the wonderful people in Jefferson. Mary was very appreciative of the loyal & supportive community that helped her cope with both the needs of her daughter, Patty, who is severely developmentally disabled, & the death of her husband, which happened so suddenly & unexpectedly. Mary received the honor of Jefferson Mother of the Year based on her son Michaels's nomination in 1974. Mary was an adventurous traveler, & she & her family traveled across the country during the summers. She especially enjoyed the Tetons, where she was the Fudge Lady & several of her children worked during the summers. She also enjoyed Mackinaw Island & visits to see the California grandkids. After retirement, she moved to Peoria, IL, & enjoyed her family, book clubs, AAUW, church events, sports & politics. Her Ping-Pong, Cash Cab, Jeopardy & cribbage skills were unparalleled. She is survived by her children, Mary Ann Kundrat (Pat McNulty) of Windsor Heights, Patricia Kundrat of Woodward Resource Center, Michael Kundrat of Phoenix, AZ, Janet (Joe) O'Neill of Peoria, IL, & Susan (Victoria Burkhalter) Kundrat of Savoy, IL; daughter-in-law, Jeffree (Kundrat) Hunt of Belmont Shores, CA; & 15 grandchildren, & a wonderful & loving group of friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, George & son, Jeff (George Fenton). She spend her last months laughing, honoring & reminiscing about the people in her life who meant so much to her, & she wishes that her thanks & love be communicated.