Mary O'Laughlin

We are sad to announce the unexpected passing of Mary O’Laughlin on January 14, 2026. She was our everything and will be missed beyond what words could possibly convey.

A Time of Gathering will be held on Friday, January 23, 2026, from 4-7 pm, at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation, 4565 Pleasant Street SE, Prior Lake and on Saturday, January 24, 2026, from 10-10:45 am, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 am, both at St. Michael Catholic Church, 16400 Duluth Avenue SE, Prior Lake. Father Tom Walker will preside. Mary will be laid to rest at St. Michael Catholic Cemetery.

Mass will be livestreamed through: St. Mike's Youtube.

Mary’s bright spirit burst forth into this life on the 10th of June,1946, number five of twelve children born to Francis and Margaret O’Laughlin. Already singing in the church at age 7, she went on to bless so many with her beautiful voice at weddings, funerals, and even birthday parties with special friends. Her passion for the Lord led to a life of service at St. Michael Catholic Church, serving on the Liturgy Committee, acting as a wedding coordinator and lector; and cantoring or singing in the choir at Sunday Mass.

After high school years spent in Eveleth filled with fun, laughter, and a bit of her infamous “Irish” mischievousness and humor, Mary moved to the Twin Cities at age 19 to begin what would become an impressive lifelong career. She retired as Assistant Vice President (AVP) of Operations at U.S. Bank after a 47 ½ year career that she was so very proud of. It was both in her work and in her life as a single woman sharing a house with her girlfriends in Bloomington that she forged friendships and nicknames that would last a lifetime; whether you knew her as “Mary O,” “Mary,” or “Margy,” you knew you had made a friend to know forever…

Her most treasured role in life was undoubtedly raising, as a single mother, her beautiful daughter Angel. They talked daily and shared a special bond, whether singing in church, at weddings and funerals, or just being together—a bond that had them at bingo the night before Mary passed. Every Monday was bingo night, despite their abysmal record of rarely winning (a running joke between them). Mary’s greatest love was her family, and she knew how lucky she was when she gained Denson for a son-in-law and thereafter became a grandmother to Maisy, who became a perpetual shining light in her life. They were her treasure.

Mary LIVED, bringing a vital energy to any room she walked into; whether it was spinning while singing “Proud Mary” on the dance floor or gracing the role of Mother Superior in Nunsense as one of the Prior Lake Players, she liked fun, and sharing it with others. She believed in the luck of the Irish and even a green beer now and again. She had a tender heart, a quick wit, and a bit of leprechaun to her, and anyone who knew her realized their good fortune at being in her orbit for that moment in time.

Waiting excitedly for her, as she slipped out of this life, were her parents Francis “Frank” and Margaret; siblings, Daniel O’Laughlin, Shelly O’Laughlin, Tim (Pat) O’Laughlin, Karen (Tony) Lang; and special friend Dick Houle. She is survived by her daughter Angel (Denson) Malone; granddaughter Maisy Malone; siblings Sharon (Stephen) Montreuil, Suellen (Christopher) Walls, Francie (Donald) Kosiak, Terry (Stephen) Rozek, Shaun (Rosemary) O’Laughlin, Sheila (Mark) Schollmeier, Colleen (Corky) Rinken; and countless nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.