Mary A. Jirik, age 83, of New Prague, died Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015, at Mayo Clinic Health System New Prague. Mary was born July 31, 1931 in Webster, MN to Joseph and Theresa (Simek) Tuma. Mary's father died when she was just 6 weeks old and her mother when she was age 13. She attended school in Webster but after her mother's death, she moved to Minneapolis, where she was raised by her aunt and uncle, Frank & Ceil Jirik. As a young girl, she worked as a nursing assistant at St. Mary's Hospital in the O.R. After her marriage to Theodore W. Jirik on February 5, 1955 in Veseli, MN, she worked at Green Giant and then at Mala Strana Nursing Home but her primary occupation was raising her family. She and Ted lived in Richfield until moving to the farm on Cedar Lake in 1973 and then finally to New Prague in 2006. Mary was a member of St. Patrick Council of Catholic Women and many couples and ladies card clubs. Before her stroke, Mary loved embroidery and crocheting. She also loved to decorate her home for the holidays and do arts and crafts with the grandchildren.

Mary is survived by her husband, Ted of New Prague; children, Mary Beth (& Jim) Johnston of Woodbury, Carol Jirik of Minneapolis, Stephanie Hendrickson of St. Louis Park, Nancy (& Randy) Nelson of New Prague, Frank (& Jennifer) Jirik of New Prague, Scott (& Kristin) Jirik of Wausau, WI; 9 grandchildren; sisters, Ceil Malecha of Lonsdale, Mary (& Jerry) Griffin of Rochester, Katie Adamek of Burnsville; sisters-in-law, Mamie Tuma of New Prague, Mary Lou Jirik of Watertown, MN, Sharon Jirik of Lakeville, MN. She is preceded in death by her parents, Joseph & Theresa (Simek) Jirik and Frank & Ceil Jirik; brothers, Eddie, Jim, & Joe Tuma, and Leonard, Charlie, and Frank Jirik; sisters, Ann Trenda, Margie Smith.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, April 11, 2015 at 12 Noon at St. Patrick Catholic Church at Cedar Lake with Father Orlando Tatel officiating. Visitation will take place Friday from 4 - 8 PM and Saturday morning from 7:30 - 11:30 at Bruzek Funeral Home. Lunch will occur immediately after mass at the church social hall and burial will occur at a later time. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to St. Patrick Church.