Marian Jean (Schoenfelder) Halloran

Marian Halloran, 98, of Chatfield passed away peacefully, on Tuesday Oct. 6, 2020, at Chosen Valley Care Center in Chatfield.

Marian was born to William and Mame (Fogerty) Schoenfelder on July 31, 1922, the third oldest of nine children. She attended country schools and graduated from Rochester High School in 1939.

She married M. James Halloran on May 6, 1944 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Rochester and together they raised nine children. After all her children were in school, Marian joined Mayo Clinic as a Physical Therapy Aide where she worked for 15 years retiring in 1987.

Marian was a longtime member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Chatfield, serving on the Parish Council as well as being a longtime member of the Altar Society. She was an inaugural member of the volunteer corp at Mayo Clinic, and an active volunteer to countless organizations among them the Chosen Valley Care Center and Chatfield Tourism Bureau. In addition, she was on the Board of Directors at Lakewood, a member of the Chatfield Library Board, Selco SE Board, and a 54-year member of the St. Elizabeth’s Card Group.

Marian was a ferocious reader and loved playing board games in which she was a fierce competitor. She loved hosting parties and holiday dinners for an ever-growing family. Her favorite pastime was traveling to visit her siblings or children in Washington state, Idaho, California, Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin and Florida; bus trips to the eastern states, Branson, and Mackinac Island; as well as vacation trips to Hawaii and Ireland.

Marian is survived by her nine children; Tom (Debbie) Halloran, Mike (Donna) Halloran, Maureen (Jerry) Barry, Sharon (Bob) Claude, Jerry (Lois) Halloran, Margi Halloran, Mary Lu (Steve) Risewick, Dick (Denise) Halloran, Beth (Dani Roach) Halloran; 20 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren (with one more due January 2021); and 5 great-great grandchildren; her sister Patricia Leonard; and several cousins, nieces and nephews. Her children will especially miss her sense of humor and her (sometimes pointed) wit and her quick retorts which stayed with her to the end. To say that she was loved and will be missed by all is a terrific understatement.

Marian is preceded in death by her husband Jim on October 28, 1986; her parents; six brothers, Bob, Richard, Ralph, Jerry, Don and Neil; and one sister Bette Baker.

Marian loved deeply, laughed easily, never quit learning and giving and always believed that others were doing their absolute best with what they had. To know her was to love her and love yourself a bit more, too. She gave life her all and always believed she could do more.  May this be said of all of us.

Memorials for Marian can be directed to St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Chatfield, MN.

A private Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 323 Twiford Street SW in Chatfield, MN., at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, October 10 with Father Edward McGrath officiating.  Public visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.  Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, in Chatfield.  Please follow social distancing guidelines and wear a mask.

Online condolences can be left at rileyfuneralhomes.com.