Mary Beatrice (Hutchison) LeBrun, 90, of Brussels, died Monday, April 20 after a short illness with family at her side.
Mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, friend – Mary will forever be remembered for her devotion to her family, her sharp wit and keen ability to find humor in every moment of every day, as well as her superpower: To make each person in her presence feel as if they were the most special person in her life.
Mary was born Sept. 20, 1935 in New London, WI, the daughter of Bernice (O’Brien) and Alton Hutchison. The fourth of nine children, Mary grew up on the family farm and graduated from New London High School. During high school and immediately after, she worked as a nursing assistant at New London Hospital. She then studied for and received a certificate in cosmetology before briefly working as a stylist in Green Bay.
She married Raphael (Ray) LeBrun on Aug. 24, 1957, at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church in New London. They started their family living in a Quonset hut in married student housing while Ray studied vocational education at Stout State College in Menomonie.
They settled in Door County in 1961, where they raised their seven children in a beautiful spot on the bay that has been and continues to be ground zero for large family gatherings. Mary worked for many years in the 1980s and ’90s as manager of the All-Canada Shows, traveling to major cities throughout the Midwest. She especially enjoyed traveling to Canada to meet with key event exhibitors. Earlier, she coordinated adult enrichment classes for the University of Wisconsin Extension, served on the Southern Door School Board, volunteered as president of the local American Cancer Society and organized a Girl Scout troop in Southern Door.
Mary had a strong faith in God and was a member of St. Louis Catholic Parish in Dyckesville, as well as St. Francis Catholic Church in Brussels and St. Mary of the Snows, Namur.
Mary and Ray enjoyed traveling to England, Ireland and Hawaii as well as visits to family throughout the U.S. One particularly memorable trip was with her sisters to Trois-Rivières, Quebec, the birthplace of their paternal grandmother Lucinda “Sadie” Bechard. She also enjoyed day trips to northern Door County with her sisters, daughters, daughters-in-law and friends. Mary loved flowers and enjoyed tending her beds of roses, lilies and perennials.
She was an avid reader, sometimes reading two or three novels per week, and was a longtime member of a neighborhood book club she organized called Women Who Walk on Water. She knew the rules to countless card games and loved to play with family and friends. Mary found humor in everyday life and loved to write poetry and stories based on real-life incidents. When Ray volunteered with the Knights of Columbus in Green Bay and sold tickets to the annual Packers Bishop’s Charities game, she submitted a humorous piece in a contest about why she enjoyed attending Packers games (in high heels and pearl necklace) and won a 1960s World Championship football signed by the Green Bay Packers.
Often, when a community or family event needed organizing, Mary took charge, typically also took the microphone and had everyone in stitches. Every year, family and friends delighted in receiving her annual Christmas letter, which she wrote for more than 60 years.
Mary was predeceased by her husband, side kick, straight man to her humor and the love of her life, Ray, who died in 2022. In recent years she dearly missed Ray but continued to spend time at home enjoying her children, grandchildren and many friends, often in large and boisterous gatherings. Since her health declined in the past two years she relished precious one-on-one time with her adult children, who kept a calendar and took turns staying with her at her home. In the last weeks of her life in the hospital and at hospice, she kept the doctors and nurses on their toes with her quick wit, pausing to take a serious moment only to tell someone how much she loved them.
She is survived by seven children and their spouses: John and Kathy (Leege) LeBrun, Eau Claire; Margaret LeBrun and David Allen, Sturgeon Bay; D'Ann (LeBrun) and Peter Jackson, Sturgeon Bay; Robert and Jackie (Devos) LeBrun, Green Bay; David and Becky (Dorsher) LeBrun, Sturgeon Bay; Darrin and Mary (Meyer) LeBrun, Wausau; and Jaymi LeBrun and Daniel Scollan, St. Paul, Minn. She is survived by 13 grandchildren and their partners: Katie LeBrun, Joseph LeBrun (Adam Bronstad), Nathaniel LeBrun (Madison Fry), Raphael Allen and Michaela Moy, Samuel and Amy (Maniola) Allen, Callie (LeBrun) and Chris Kolarik, Riese LeBrun (Julianna Schneider), Veronica LeBrun, Bryce LeBrun and Braedyn Bosilovatz, Jonathan LeBrun, Anna LeBrun (Connor Darrow); Matthew and Kailey (Blatz) LeBrun, and Sean LeBrun. She is also survived by five great grandchildren: Oliver Kolarik, Cecilia Kolarik, Carey Bosilovitz LeBrun, Raphael Bosilovitz LeBrun and James LeBrun. Also, “international” grandchildren Fouad AlKhouri and Nicole AlKhouri. She is also survived by siblings: Tom Hutchison, Dr. Margaret Hutchison, Bill and Darlene (Harvey) Hutchison, Judy (Hutchison) and Bob Fischer, Nancy (Hutchison) Schlafer, and David and Kathy (Kelley) Hutchison. In addition, she is survived by in-laws: Dorothy (LeBrun) Euclide, Eunice (LeBrun) Pozza, Marilyn (LeBrun) Gillis, Don LeBrun and Jan Schneider, Mary (LeBrun) Gandt and Ned Benedict, Gloria (LeBrun) Robertson, Roger LeBrun and Diana Hayes, Joann (LeBrun) and Steve Madson, and Samantha Keenan. “Aunt Mary” is also survived by 69 nieces and nephews and many more great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by two siblings, Roberta (Hutchison) Prunty, Betty (Hutchison) Balthazar; and several in-laws: Sister Doris Jean LeBrun, Ann (Makowski) LeBrun, Linda (Kooyman) LeBrun, Joe Pozza, Jerry Gandt, Jim Keenan, Jim Prunty, Frank Schlafer, Marian (Rulseh) Hutchison, Norman Balthazar, Tom Tennesson, Jim Euclide and Larry Gillis. Also preceding her in death were three nieces: Carla Robertson, Rebecca (Madson) Leach and Laurie (LaMarche) Carlton.
Mary was very proud of each of her children and grandchildren and loved them all deeply. They will treasure the memory of her annual Christmas socks, singing birthday calls and funny texts.
A visitation will be held from Saturday, April 25, 9 to 11 a.m. at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church, New London, followed by a funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Burial will be at the Most Precious Blood Cemetery in New London, followed by a luncheon at Bean City Bar & Grill, New London.
Forbes Funeral Home of Sturgeon Bay is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.forbesfuneralhome.com. Financial donations may be made to Unity Hospice, 2366 Oak Ridge Circle, De Pere, WI 54115.
