Obituary: Mary Jean Wiitanen

Hancock: Mary Jean (Schoos) Wiitanen, 80, of Hancock, passed away on Thursday, July 18, 2019 at the Houghton County Medical Care Facility in Hancock.

She was born in Hancock on August 29, 1938, a daughter of the late Nicholas and Angeline (Baril) Schoos. She graduated from Hancock High School, and later from a cosmetology school. She worked at various jobs in Milwaukee and in California before returning to Hancock after her retirement.

Mary was a member of the Church of the Resurrection in Hancock and it’s funeral lunch committee and prayer shawl group. She enjoyed genealogy, and volunteered at her church doing genealogy requests for many years. She also enjoyed biking, fishing, hunting, and loved horses.

Besides her parents, she was also preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Frank Bates.

She is survived by her two sons: Bill Wiitanen of Hancock and Jim (Debbie) Wiitanen of West Allis, WI; brothers Nicholas (Audrey) Schoos of Menominee Falls, WI, Bill Schoos of Hancock, and Ray (Mary) Schoos of Oskar Bay; sisters Barbara Bates of Hancock and Annie (Jim) Mason or Merrill, WI; grandchildren Autumn, Dustin, Cody, and Troy; great-grandchildren Dillon, Austin, and Aubrey; by the father of her children, Wilfred Wiitanen; and by many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, July 23, 2019 at the Church of the Resurrection in Hancock with Reverend Father William Ssozi to officiate. Interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery in Houghton.

In lieu of flowers, please consider having masses dedicated to her at the Church of the Resurrection.

The family wishes to send a special thanks to the Houghton County Medical Care Facility and staff along with director of nurses Angel Bates, and to UPHS Portage Home Care and Hospice for their kind and compassionate care during Mary’s recent illness.

The O’Neill-Dennis Funeral Home of Hancock is assisting with the arrangements. To leave online condolences, please go to www.oneilldennisfh.com.