Mary Frances Merwin

Mary Frances Merwin, 60, of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, passed away at home on Monday, Oct. 11, 2010.She was born in Chicago, Ill., on Nov. 12, 1949, a daughter of James Patrick and Mary Claire Sullivan.She completed her undergraduate studies in education at Edgewood College in Madison, Wis. She received her master’s degree in educational leadership from Marian College in Fond du Lac.On Nov. 27, 1971, she married Gary Lee Merwin at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Munster, Ind.She is survived by her husband, Gary; two daughters, Katherine Hareid (Aaron) and Margaret Merwin, both of Minneapolis, Minn; two sons, Joseph Merwin (Sandra) of Jacksonville, Fla. and Luke Merwin of Minneapolis, Minn.; three grandchildren, Ava Hareid, Henry Hareid and Eliannah Merwin.Mary Fran is further survived by her mother of Orange, Calif.; and eight siblings, James Sullivan Jr. (Elizabeth), Munster, Ind., John Sullivan (Nancy), Fairfax, Va., Michael Sullivan (Joan), Cincinnati, Ohio, Matthew Sullivan, Davis, Calif., Anne Daly (Malachy), Antioche, Calif., Jerry Sullivan (Lorna), Los Angeles, Calif., Margaret Glick (Brian), Mt. Baldy, Calif., Patricia Bornhop (Andrew), Orange, Calif.; and many nieces and nephews.Mary Fran was preceded in death by her father; her maternal grandparents, Mary Frances and Irwin Wiley; and her paternal grandparents, John and Anna Sullivan.Mary Fran’s personal interests included social justice, mercy, kindness, compassion and a particular concern for those living in poverty.The family will receive relatives and friends on Friday, Oct. 15 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Mach Funeral Chapel & Crematory, 31 E. Division St., Fond du Lac; and from 10 to 11 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church, 271 Fourth Street Way, Fond du Lac on Saturday, Oct. 16.A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010, at Holy Family Catholic Church, with Rev. Victor Capriolo officiating. Burial will follow in Ledgeview Memorial Park.A memorial service will be held on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010, at 4:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center of the Fond du Lac High School, 801 Campus Drive, Fond du Lac.Memorials in Mary Fran's name can be sent to the National Brain Tumor Society at: 124 Watertown Street, Suite 2D, Watertown, MA 02472.

Mary Frances Merwin

November 12, 1949 - October 11, 2010