ST. PAUL–Mary Jo Bastian, age 86, died peacefully on January 30, 2025, at Our Lady of Peace Home in St. Paul, MN.

Born in New Ulm Minnesota on July 18, 1938, to Edwin and Margaret (Steinbach) Bastian, she grew up on a farm near St. George. She attended elementary school at St. George Catholic School, Holy Trinity Catholic High School in New Ulm, and St. Francis College in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Mary Jo was a teacher and principal. She served in Faith Formation at St. Odilia Catholic Community in Shoreview, Minnesota. She enjoyed watercolor painting, reading, being outside in nature, and pizza. She enjoyed annual retreats and spiritual direction. She traveled to Germany, Netherlands and Rome in 2002 with members of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, of which she was a member for several years.

Mary Jo is survived by her sisters, Gervaise Bastian of Fort Wayne, Indiana and Geraldine (Engelbert) Hauber of Las Vegas, Nevada; brothers, Wallace Bastian of New Ulm, Cletus (Arlene) Bastian of LeRoy, Thomas (Lois) Bastian of Marshall; sister-in-law Lorraine Bastian of Gibbon; and many nieces and nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers LeRoy, Ambrose, and Jerome in infancy.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 11 a.m. (visitation begins at 10 a.m.) on Tuesday, February 18 at St. Odilia Catholic Church, 3495 N. Victoria, Shoreview MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. (visitation begins at 10 a.m.) on Wednesday, February 19 at St. George Catholic Church in New Ulm (part of Holy Cross Area Faith Community) 63105 Fort Road, New Ulm, MN. Burial will be in the St. George Cemetery. Memorials preferred to a Parkinson’s support organization or to St. Odilia Catholic Church.

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