Mary Therese Jirele

Mary Therese Jirele passed away on June 5, 2025, at Twin Town Villa in Breckenridge, MN. Mary was born on May 10, 1936, in St. Paul, MN, to Mary Lois and Chet Powell.

Mary attended Holy Spirit Grade School, Derham Hall High School, and St. Catherine University in St. Paul, MN. On November 16, 1957, Mary married the love of her life, Al Jirele, in St. Paul. Together they raised and are survived by five beautiful children: sons, John, Joe (Jasmine), and Jim (Teri), and daughters Jenifer Jirele (Mike Fratto), and Jane (Scott) Johnson. She was a proud grandmother to 19 grandchildren and an adored great-grandmother to 13 great-grandchildren.

Mary is also survived by her siblings Peter Powell, Susan (Stan) Rydell, Jane (George) Vasiliou, Peggy (Dan) Betlock, Greg Powell, Jim (Pam) Powell, and Ted Powell, as well as brother-in-law, Tom Grebin, and many dear nieces and nephews.

After starting married life as a dental assistant, Mary soon became a stay-at-home mom. She spent her days taking care of the kids, chaperoning various school events, and supporting her children in many sporting events and activities. She worked alongside her husband, Al, and their children in their Christmas wreath business for many years and always had a homemade meal on the table and a clean, welcoming home. Most importantly, Mary devoted much time to prayer and daily Mass. She was involved in the Cursillo Movement and cherished her weekly meetings with her friends from the group.

Mary and Al were fortunate to make two pilgrimages to Medugorje, where they experienced God’s loving hand in their lives, and were also able to see Pope John Paul II on a pilgrimage to Italy. Mary’s spiritual life was the most important thing to her, and she felt called to bring her family and friends to God through prayer, sharing her faith, and showing a good example to all she knew. She had a special devotion to Our Blessed Mother and St. Therese De Lisieux.

Mary was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Allan D. Jirele, and thanks our Lord for sparing her to be with him at the end of his life; her beloved parents, Mary Lois and Chet Powell, her mother- and father-in-law, Ed and Rita Jirele, brothers-in-law Ed Jirele and his wife Shirley, Neil Jirele and his wife Marge, and Orrie Jirele and his wife Marie; and sisters-in-law Cleo Grebin, Marian Kliger (Powell) and Eileen Powell.

On Friday, June 13, 2025, a Rosary is scheduled to begin at 8:45 a.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church in Wahpeton, ND. This will be followed by a visitation period from 9:00-11:00 a.m., then a Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. Burial will immediately follow at Calvary Cemetery in Wahpeton, ND, and all are then welcome for a luncheon at St. John’s.

Mary lived her life with spiritual purpose, devotion to her family, and love and kindness to all who knew her.