Mary A. Sende

Mary A. Sende, age 97 of Cambridge, died October 26, 2025. A Memorial Mass will be held at 11 A.M. on Wednesday, November 5th at Christ the King Catholic Church in Cambridge. A time for visiting will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. A private interment will be held at Fort Snelling at a later date.

Mary Sende passed away peacefully at age 97 on October 26, 2025, surrounded by her family. Born on April 12, 1928, in Eckelson, North Dakota, Mary lived a long and beautiful life rooted in love, faith, and devotion to those she cherished most.

In 1950, she married Charles "Phil," the love of her life. Together they built a home and a life in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, filled with laughter, love, and countless memories.

To know Mary was to know comfort and kindness. She had a laugh that could fill a room and a presence that made everyone feel at home. She spent her life caring for others through her years as a teacher, through her friendships, and through her time working at the University of Minnesota. Above all, she found her greatest joy in her role as a mother and grandmother. Her love was steady, her strength unwavering, and her faith deeply felt.

In her final days, she was brought home to her family's care. Those days were filled with stories, belly laughs, and quiet moments of love. It was a privilege for her family to care for her and to walk her home with dignity and grace.

Her family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the wonderful team at St. Croix Hospice for their kindness, compassion, and support throughout her final journey. Their care brought comfort, peace, and warmth to both Mary and her loved ones and will always be remembered with deep appreciation.

Mary's family will forever be grateful for the time they shared with her-for the laughter, the lessons, and the love that will never fade.

She is survived by her son, Timothy and his wife, Carol; and by her grandchildren, Crystal, Hannah (Alex), and Sarah. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren, Beau and Blake, who will carry forward her warmth, humor, and faith.

She is preceded in death by her loving husband Charles "Phil;" sons, Charles "Chuck," Tom, and Jim; sisters, Betty, Dorothy, and Cassie; and many other cherished family members.

Mary's presence will be deeply missed, but her love will live on in every heart she touched. Her laughter will echo in the stories we tell, and her light will guide us always.

Information below was written and published by the University of Minnesota when Mary retired:

Mary Sende retired in 1993, in April. Mary was born in Eckelson, North Dakota, graduated from St. Catherine's High School in Valley City, North Dakota, and attended the Valley City State Teacher's College to receive a teaching certificate in elementary education. She taught elementary grades in North Dakota for three years, and then met and married Charles (Phil) Sende in 1950. A son, Charles Lee, was born in 1951 and deceased in 1973; son Timothy Phillip was born in 1957 and now lives in Cambridge, Minnesota. Mary has, by the time this goes to press, three grandchildren-Crystal Lee, 13, Hannah, 3, and a new "bundle of joy" born this summer.

Mary joined the department as a senior clerk typist in March of 1967, advanced to the position of senior secretary and then to principal secretary, the position she held at the time of her retirement. During her 26-year tenure, she provided excellent secretarial assistance to many faculty. Juggling the needs of several faculty is a difficult task which Mary handled gracefully and proficiently. Over the years, hundreds of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows also appreciated Mary's helpfulness and encouragement. When Mary received an IT Civil Service Outstanding Service Award in 1991, many former students wrote letters of support expressing fond memories of the interest Mary took in their careers and the assistance she provided them during their stay in Minnesota.

Mary is devoted to her parents, who reside in St. Paul and are 85 and 90 years of age. Retirement will give her the time she relishes with them. In addition, she and Phil have plans for travel and summers at the lake. Her departmental friends wish her many happy and productive retirement years.