Mary Sauve

On February 19, 2020, Mary Donalda Sauve (88), went home to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Mary died in hospice care at St Luke’s Hospital surrounded by her family.

Born January 5, 1932, in Cavalier, North Dakota, Mary was the last surviving child of Hugo and Gertrude Nowatzki’s twelve children. After graduating from Cavalier High School, she attended the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, graduating in 1954. She excelled academically and participated in many organizations.

While working in the St. Scholastica dining room, Mary met Vince when he was attending a Knight’s of Columbus dinner where her beautiful smile caught his eye. They married on July 9, 1955, and together they raised their six children in the Chester Park neighborhood.

A long-time parishioner at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary, Mary will be remembered for her perpetual devotion to her faith and family. As a devout Catholic, she lived her faith with humility while serving others. She took great pride in the accomplishments of her children and their families. After over 60 years in their home, Mary and Vince moved to the Westwood Senior Community in 2018, bringing them back to the grounds of St. Scholastica where they first met.

Mary was extremely organized, perpetually busy, and exceedingly resourceful. She could mend, repair, or repurpose just about anything. She enjoyed baking and always kept a full cookie jar. Scrabble and Yahtzee games were played with quiet determination and a mischievous smile.

Preceding her in death were her parents; eleven siblings: Dorothy, Adelbert, Charles, Harold, Hugo S., Cecil, Nowatzki, Gertrude McMillan, Mildred Snell, Margaret Paul, and two infant brothers Hugo E. and James.

Mary is survived by her husband of 64 years, Joseph Vincent, Duluth. Children: Mike (Twila), Duluth, Steve (Char), Duluth, Bob (Beth), Roxborough Park, CO, Greg (Sandy), Jordan, MN, Tom, Minneapolis, and Mary Jo, Minneapolis. Grandchildren: Joseph, Chris, Jesse (Leslie), Anne Furuseth (Michael Moore), Mara Schneidermann (Jordan), Danielle (Fiancé Ian Metry), Ryan, Brandon, Adam, and Alec Sauve, Chelsea Schmidt (Eric) and Kayla Sauve. Great Grandchildren: Noble, Sawyer and Romy Sauve, Aubrey, Brendan and Aurora Moore. She will be deeply missed by all her family including numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Mary’s name can be given to The Damiano Center of Duluth, 206 W 4th St, Duluth, MN 55806.  The Damiano Center was built by the community for the community. It is the largest emergency meal provider in Northeastern Minnesota and has the largest free store in Duluth; or Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, 600 Linda Avenue, Hawthorne, NY 10532. The Congregation of Saint Rose of Lima was founded in 1900 by Rose Hawthorne Lathrop, (Mother Mary Alphonsa), the daughter of Nathaniel Hawthorne. Rose was a convert to Catholicism and in searching for a way to serve God and the poor began her work of caring for incurable cancer patients on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

We want to express our thanks and gratitude for the compassionate care provided to Mary by Dr. Timothy Kleinschmidt, the nursing and hospice staff at St Luke’s Hospital, and the staff and caregivers at Westwood Senior Community.

VISITATION: Thursday, February 27th, from 11:00 am until the noon Mass of Christian Burial at the Benedictine Living Community Chapel, 935 Kenwood Ave, Duluth MN. Burial will be at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, Duluth, MN.  Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, Duluth, 218-727-3555.