Mary Ann Griffin

Mary Ann Elizabeth (Schell) Griffin passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones on September 2, 2026 at the age of 75.

She was born on October 13, 1950, to Anthony and Violet (Mueller) Schell in Arcadia, WI. Mary grew up in Stockton, MN and eventually made Lewiston, MN her home.

Mary was united in marriage to Dennis L. Golish in 1969 and together they had 3 children; Cheryl, Brian and Donna. He passed away. In 1987, Mary met and married the love of her life, George Griffin Sr. Together, they had built a life filled with love, laughter, creativity, and family. They were blessed with 1 daughter, Amanda.

Mary had a deep love and appreciation for the outdoors, and she had a true gift for bringing beauty to the world around her. She spent many years nurturing her green thumb, transforming ordinary spaces into beautiful gardens filled with life and color. Her passion for gardening was something she loved to share with others, often lending her time, knowledge, and talent to create flower beds at the homes of family members. For Mary, gardening was more than a hobby, it was a way of creating something beautiful and sharing that beauty with the people she loved.

Mary’s creativity extended beyond her gardens. George’s talent for woodworking often paired beautifully with Mary’s own creativity, as he would build furniture and she would give each piece her personal touch by stripping, staining, and refinishing it. Together, they created pieces that were not only useful but filled with the love and craftsmanship they shared. She also did furniture restoration for Stockton's very own, "Vi's This & That Shop." Mary also found great joy in the simple wonders of nature. Her yard was often filled with bird feeders, carefully placed to attract a variety of birds that she loved watching and caring for. Her favorites: cardinals, hummingbirds and she loved seeing butterflies too. Wildlife also inspired her creativity and she would spend some of her time drawing and painting scenes of deer, trees and the natural world she cherished so much.

Mary also spent most of her life as a residential and commercial cleaner, she was a hard worker.

Mary’s family will forever remember the joy she brought through music and dancing, too. They will miss seeing her out on the dance floor, hearing her whistle a familiar tune, and listening to her play the harmonica which was something she could do entirely by ear. These little pieces of Mary; her love of nature, her creativity, her music, and the beauty she brought into everything she touched, will remain treasured memories for all who knew and loved her.

Above all, Mary cherished her family and they were her greatest joy.

Mary is survived by her children, Cheryl (Scott Rothering) Golish, Brian (Jennifer) Golish, Amanda (Jeff) Evenson, Donna (Ryan) Konkel. Grandchildren; Angela (Dylan Vaughn) Beeman, Amber Beeman, Emily (Austin Hooker) Beeman, Austin (Callie Schams) Beeman, Kelvin (Kelsie) Konkel, Jocelyn Todd, Abby Golish, Alexis Golish, Maddie (Chason) Cordova, Cooper Golish, Myla Reps, Henry Evenson, Silas Evenson. Great Grandchildren; Isaac, Tyson, Chloee, Braxton, Ryder, Evelyn, Oaklynn, Luna and Nellie. Siblings; Edward Schell, Ronald (Terry) Schell, Mike Schell, Rose (Steve) Krueger, Donna (Ken) Srock, and Kathy (John) Griffin.

She was preceded in death by her husband: George; parents: Anthony and Violet; and brothers, Donald, Richard, John, Arnie, and Charlie.

Pallbearers: Scott Rothering, Brian Golish, Austin Beeman, Brad Hardin, Isaac Silva, Tyson Varner. Honorary Pallbearers: Robert Griffin and Kelvin Konkel.

Mary's family would like to express a special thank you to Dr. Bryan Reed, his staff, and Winona Area Hospice for their care of Mary.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 11am at Hoff Celebration of Life (3480 Service Dr. Winona, MN) with visitation starting at 10:00am. A private family burial will be held at 12:30pm at the Lewiston Public Cemetery. A luncheon and Celebration of Life will be at MG's On Fifth at 4pm and is open to the public.