Mary Woll

Madison, Wisconsin / Concord, Massachusettes - Mary V. Woll (Ginny), age 89, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Monday, September 12, 2011 at Oakwood West in Madison. She was born on June 17, 1922 to Albert and Mabel (Saucier) Cowan in Columbia, Missouri. As a young adult, Ginny was accepted into an engineering training program at the University of Missouri during the war. After completing the program she worked at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio and subsequently RCA in both Indianapolis and Camden, NJ where she met the love of her life. Ginny was united in marriage to Harry J. Woll on February 15, 1947 beginning a wonderful journey of 64 years. Ginny's primary vocation in life was that of caregiver; supporting her family and helping those in need. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. In her free time, she dedicated much of her time to reading textbooks to blind students, visiting the elderly, and caring for friends' children. At age 42 she returned to college to complete a lifelong goal of obtaining her B. A. in English Literature - an accomplishment which demonstrated her perseverance and which made her family very proud. She continued her love of knowledge and religion through many years in St. Bernard's and later Oakwood Bible Study groups, the Concord Women's bookclub and both Concord and Oakwood Great Ideas groups. Ginny enjoyed skiing, sailing, gardening and camping. The family recalls many happy nights spent camping in the Pennsylvania woods and the Pine Barrens of New Jersey and skiing in the mountains of New England. In their retirement years, Ginny and Harry spent many weekends sailing in Casco Bay, ME. Ginny was a woman of many talents who appreciated all of the arts. She played the piano, studied painting, made quilts, and was an excellent cook whose recipes included her awesome homemade vegetable soup. Ginny is survived by her beloved family - husband, Harry; her son Daniel (Beth Shockey-Woll) Woll of River Falls, WI and daughter Alice (Dave) Erickson of Madison, WI; her dear grandchildren, Jenny Updike, Katie Freeberg, Stephen Erickson, Christopher Erickson, Shelley Woll and her loving siblings, Anne Cowan, Michael Cowan and Judith Johnson. She was preceded in death by her parents, and a brother and sister. A visitation will be held from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. on Friday, September 16, 2011 at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison. A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 17, 2011 at OAKWOOD WEST in the RESURRECTION CHAPEL, 6205 Mineral Point Road, Madison. The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the amazing staff of Covenant Oaks and most recently the Amber Team of Hospice. Ginny, mom, grandma, friend, we will miss you and love you always.