PIERRE, SD – On January 13, 2025 Mary Rita Rezac, 93, was called home to heaven. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, January 18 at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Pierre with a visitation from 6:00pm-7:00pm on Friday, January 17 at Isburg Funeral Chapel with a prayer service starting at 7:00pm. Interment will be held at 11:30am(mst) on Tuesday, January 21 at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD.

She was born on September 20, 1931, in Muscatine, Iowa to Julius and Angela Werckman. At the age of three, she and her family moved back to Pierre where she spent the remainder of her life.

Mary Graduated from Pierre High School in 1949. Later, Mary worked for the South Dakota Veterans Department where she met Art, the love of her life, who also worked for the state of South Dakota at that time. On October 16, 1954, Art and Mary joined together in holy matrimony at Ss Peter and Paul Catholic Church. This union produced four children; Mark (Kileen) of Scottsdale, Arizona; Mary Jo of Rapid City; Barb (Ron) Hall of Willow, Alaska, and Pete (Molly) of Reno, Nevada.

Mary spent the majority of her life in service to others through her volunteering. Her endeavors included Maryhouse for 45 plus years; Ss Peter and Paul Catholic Church as funeral coordinator for over 40 years; Hospice; St Joseph’s Catholic School and many others throughout her life. In 1989, she received the prestigious Pierre Volunteer of the Year Award. She was also an avid bridge player, an immaculate seamstress, a fabulous needle pointer, and an enthusiast of other creative hobbies.

In addition, Mary was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother as well as a good friend to many. Mary will be greatly missed.

Mary is survived by her husband (Art) of 70 years; their four children; nine grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren. She was proceeded in death by her parents and one great granddaughter, Maelea Donahue.

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