Mary Catherine Finnigan
September 21, 1943 - September 30, 2017
Born in Kenosha, WI
Resided in Rice Lake, WI

Mary Catherine Finnigan, 74, of Rice Lake, WI, died peacefully at home on Saturday, September 30, 2017.

Mary was married to Stephen W. Finnigan on July 8, 1967. They were married for 50 years.

Mary is survived by husband Stephen, their daughter, Carrie L. Finnigan (Tom Mays) of St. Paul, MN, their son, Stephen M. Finnigan (Jennifer) and twin six-year old grandsons, Miles and Willem, of Kirkland, WA, sister, Janice Sorensen (James) of San Juan Capistrano, CA their children James Sorenson, FL, Mathew Sorensen, NJ, and brother, Michael J. Pobar (Janet) of Racine, WI and their children, Michelle Pobar, CA, Colin Pobar, WI, plus many cousins and their families in the Kenosha, WI area.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Edmund and Janet Pobar, late of Racine, WI.

Mary was the example of a capable, compassionate woman; unafraid to speak her mind or meet new challenges, long before it became fashionable to do so. Mary was born in Kenosha, WI, on September 21, 1943. Following graduation as a Registered Nurse from St. Agnes School of Nursing, she accepted a position as a Psychiatric Nurse helping children in Madison where, in 1965, she met—and worked alongside—her future husband. They married in 1967, in what the Kenosha newspaper billed as the first ecumenical wedding held in the Milwaukee Diocese. Their newlywed life was interrupted two weeks later by his military service. Mary liked to tell people she went on maternity leave in 1970 and failed to return. In reality, she had found her greatest challenge and joy, that of being mother to her children.

Never afraid of adventure, Mary moved to Rice Lake in 1973 where she quickly formed lifelong friendships; an important step was becoming a member of The Rice Lake Gourmet Club. Her next move was to Maine in 2003, where she made many new friends, fell in love with the ocean, and explored the eastern coastline from West Quoddy Point to Cape Porpoise. Mary and Stephen retired to Rice Lake nearly eight years later.
Mary’s warm and gregarious nature forged strong and lasting friendships. She was richly blessed with wonderfully supportive friends from diverse backgrounds, and was always giving all she could to them.
She will be missed, but we have all been made better by knowing her. She would tell everyone to, “Never miss an opportunity to tell those you love that you love them.”

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, November 4, 2017 between 1:00 and 3:00 PM at Lehman’s Supper Club, 2911 South Main Street, Rice Lake, WI 54868. The Cremation Society of Wisconsin is handling arrangements; condolences may be offered at www.cremationsociety-wi.com.

In lieu of flowers the family requests planting a patch of daisies in the spring, or making a donation in her memory to the charity nearest your heart.

http://www.cremationsociety-wi.com/obituary/Mary-Catherine-Finnigan/Rice-Lake-WI/1756241