Mary Magdalene Andersen

Mary was born to Lawrence & Lavina Thraen in Earling, Iowa, on February 1, 1940.  She attended St. Joseph's K-12 Catholic School in Earling, Iowa.  In high school, she played basketball for the school team.  Following graduation, she moved to Omaha, NE. and worked for Mutual of Omaha. She also played basketball for the company's team.

Mary was united in marriage to Bill Andersen on September 9th, 1961 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Earling, Iowa.  Mary and Bill welcomed 3 sons; Larry, Steve, and Mike.  Their first child, Billy, was stilborn.

Mary and Bill were very active members of Sts. Peter & Paul Parish in South Omaha where their sons also attended school.  In their later years, they joined St. Columbkille Parish in Papillon, NE.     After Mike started kindergarten, Mary went back to work for the Omaha Public Schools, serving in the cafeteria program, both in the kitchen and as a cashier for almost 30 years.

Mary loved her 11 grandchildren dearly.  She loved to cook and bake and so her family enjoyed many wonderful meals throughout the years. She loved sitting at her kitchen table, pouring herself a cup of coffee and reading the newspaper, daily.  She also enjoyed watching Creighton Blue Jay basketball.

Five days before her passing, on her 85th birthday, she enjoyed watching a 2 point Creighton win.  She loved God, her Catholic faith and her family. She prayed many rosaries for her loved ones.  She is greatly loved and will be deeply missed.

Mary was preceded in death by her loving husband of 61 years William F. Andersen;  son Billy Andersen; parents Lawrence and Lavina Thraen; brothers Joseph Thraen and John Thraen.

She is survived by her sons, Larry (Denise); Steve (Kate), Mike (Tess); 9 grandsons; 2 granddaughters; sister Myra (John) Buman; sisters-in-law Judy Thraen and Geraldine Koch; brothers-in-law Laverne Andersen and Roger Zimmerman.