Mary Jane (Dornack) Faricy

Mary Jane (Dornack) Faricy of St. Paul, MN, 97 years old passed away peacefully June 18th, 2025.

Preceded in death by her parents Oscar and Kathleen Dornack, her sisters Joanne, Kay and Dianne, her husband Robert Emmet Faricy jr., and daughter in-law Gerri Niemeier.

Mary is survived by her five children: Mike (Teresa Mullaney), Tim, Maureen, Tom (Kate Galligan) and Dan (Cory Compton);  nine grand children, Maggie (Jed) Helwig, Maureen (Patrik) Olson, Pat (Emily Stahl), Avril Donagher, Molly (Peter) Sullivan, Meghan (Danny Jandro), Ryan, Emmett (Mallory Engelhardt), Robert, and Sam (Madeline Myers) Nelson; and (so far) 18 great grand children, Isaiah, Jacob, Rya, Colbie, Finnegan, Ramona, Tobias, Francis, James, Lennox, Brooke, Brynn, Delaney, Calvin, Henry, Quinn, Rowan, and Logan.

Mary was born in Mankato, Minnesota October 20, 1927 to Oscar and Kathleen Dornack. She graduated from Hibbing High School (1945), the College of St. Catherine (1949) and Augsburg College where she completed a Masters degree in Library Science. She was hired by Minneapolis Public Schools as an Instructional Media Resource Center Director at Calhoun and Hale Elementary schools. In her career she helped assimilate the school’s Hmong immigrant children, and implemented the new personal computer technology in the library.

She had many life long friends and interests. Bridge club was often hosted at her lovely home. Her membership in the Wine and Food Society drove her early interest in culinary endeavors. She was an excellent cook and an avid gardener. She traveled to Ireland, Europe, Japan, China and Australia with family and friends, and fishing trips with her father were some of her fondest memories. The beautiful sweaters she wore are of her own making.

In 1950 she married her life partner Bob. Together they shared the joys and burdens of raising five children, all of whom graduated from college and have successful careers, an  achievement of which she was most proud.

Her kindness, wisdom and love were often expressed in phrases such as 

FHB (family hold back)

We’re starting a new regime

I like winners

Just be sure you get a degree!

You will go and you will enjoy it.

Women can do anything

A special thank you to all of the nurses and staff at Carondolet Village, and Optage Hospice for their loving care in Mary’s final days.

Memorials to St Catherine’s University.

Please join the Faricy family for a celebration of Mary’s wonderful life.

July 26, 2025 1:00 to 4:00 PM

Pool and Yacht Club

1600 Lilydale Rd, Lilydale, MN

Casual attire.

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