Mary Westergren

Mary Madeline Griffith Westergren, age 96, passed away January 17, 2014 at Villa St. Francis, Olathe, Kansas. The following was written by Mary (Griffith) Westergren in March 2002. As a young girl at home, Mary Griffith helped her Mother cook, sew, take care of the home, wash, iron, plant and take care of the garden, can, and look after her brothers and sister. Mary learned to do all these things from her Mother and really enjoyed the cooking and sewing. She later used all this to care for her own family and to pass on her love of cooking and sewing to her own daughters and son. Mary married Charles Westergren on September 11, 1937 and to this marriage five children were born. Esther, Melvin Leroy (passed away at birth), Phyllis, Wilma, and Charles Jr. "Chuck". Mary and Charles lived in and around the Parker and Osawatomie area. Charles was on the railroad and after he retired, he and Mary owned and operated a radio and television repair shop in Osawatomie and later in Branson, Missouri. While living in Branson, Mary helped with the television repair shop and also worked at a sewing factory. Later, they owned and operated a resort. They decided to retire and move to the nice quiet town of Anderson, Missouri. While living in Anderson, Mary worked at two different nursing homes and the bakery and Charles worked at the post office. They lived in Paola, Kansas until Charles passed away October 3, 2005. Mary lived at Vintage Park, Gardner, Kansas for 4 " years, then moved to Villa St. Francis, Olathe, Kansas. Mary is preceded in death by her parents, husband, infant son Melvin, grandson Thadius, sisters Nellie and Marjorie, brothers Homer, Everett, Griff, James and Wilber. Mary is survived by her children Esther Gooden, of Urich, MO, Phyllis Hughes, of Olathe, KS, Wilma David of New Market, TN, and Charles Jr. "Chuck", of Colony, KS; brother William Griffith of Raytown, MO; 13 grandchildren; 24 great grandchildren and 13 great-great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Villa St. Francis, 16600 W. 126 St., Olathe, KS 66062. To share a memory of Mary or leave a special condolence message for her family, please click the Share Memories button above.