Marian Agnes Reding, 84, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012.

Marian was born Marian Thommes on April 27, 1928, to A.J. and Agnes Thommes in Austin, Minn. On Oct. 27, 1949, she married Leo John Reding and began a long full life filled with children, Leo’s political career, her faith and her St. Augustine parish community, and caring for people whether they were sick or lonely or shut in.

Marian was community-minded. She was involved with the St. Augustine parish and the women’s unit. She was an ambassador for her husband in his political career as alderman, mayor, and later as a state representative in St. Paul, Minn. It was often joked that many people voted for Leo because Marian was such a positive influence. Always impeccably dressed (and making sure Leo was too), she loved hosting community events and being part of the state’s political world. There are numerous photos of the two of them with such Minnesota notables as Walter Mondale and Hubert Humphrey of which she was extremely proud. Being impeccably dressed is a trait that was still very evident to the end when she would even accessorize before going to a meal at the rehab facility.

Being a wife and mother was very important to Marian. She taught her children to do their best, to care about others, to be responsible and to be involved in their community. She modeled that caring as she visited the elderly at Sacred Heart Hospice and wrote cards to those who were sick, hospitalized, or had lost a loved one.

She was preceded in death by her parents and both of her siblings, Dorothy Grimley and Glen Thommes. She leaves behind her five children, Colleen Reding (Mark Matthiesen), Maureen Hallett, Terry Reding (Mary Covington), Laurie Reding, and Tom Reding; five grandchildren, Alex Darke (Matt), Amy Hankinson, Elizabeth Reding, Andrea O’Byrne (Ben), and Lindsey Reding; as well as her sister in law Lenore Thommes and many nieces and nephews and their families.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to St. Augustine Church or Mayo Clinic Health System in Marian’s name.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012, at St. Augustine Catholic Church with Father Charles Quinn officiating. There will be a 4 p.m. CCW rosary and a 6:30 p.m. wake service on Tuesday at Mayer Funeral Home where friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. and also one hour before the service at the church on Wednesday. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery.