Mary Jo Kummet-Weiss

Mary Jo Kummet-Weiss, age 57 of Eden Prairie, MN passed away Sunday, October 10, 2010 at her sister's home in Eden Prairie, MN surrounded by her loving family following a courageous battle with cancer. A Memorial Mass will be held Thursday at 11:00 A.M. at Pax Christi Catholic Church in Eden Prairie, MN. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 10:00-11:00 A.M. at Pax Christi Catholic Church. Mary Jo Kummet Weiss was born on February 17, 1953 in Little Falls, Morrison County, MN to Joseph and Clara (Paulsen) Kummet. She grew up in Lastrup, MN and later moved with her family to Pierz, MN. She attended and graduated from Pierz Healy High School in 1971. Following high school, Mary moved to Minneapolis, MN where she worked for the Pillsbury Company for seven years. In June of 1973, she was united in marriage to Robert "Bob" Weiss at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Pierz. They later divorced. Mary worked part-time for Farmers Insurance Group in the district office in Brooklyn Center, MN. In December of 1980, she moved to Little Falls, MN where she worked for Dick Marshik Insurance Agency as a licensed insurance agent. In June of 1986, Mary became employed with the Little Falls School District in the district office. Mary moved to Minneapolis in 1999 where she worked for Jerry's Enterprises until August of 2010 when her declining health forced her to resign. She enjoyed planning parties, traveling and spending time with her friends and family. In 2003, Mary's daughter, Vanessa, was killed in an automobile accident. As a result of that accident, Mary went to the Minnesota State Legislature and was able to have a law put into place called "Vanessa's Law" - unlicensed teens who receive crash-related moving citations or alcohol or controlled substance citations may not receive a driver's license until age 18- which was signed into law by Governor Tim Pawlenty. Mary was a co-leader of the Minneapolis Chapter of Compassionate Friends, member of the Minnesotans for Safe Driving, Minnesota Safety Belt Coalition, American Cancer Society, Keep a Breast Foundation and Pax Christi Catholic Church in Eden Prairie, MN. Left to cherish Mary's memory are her children, Sarah (Trevor) Gunderson of Greenfield, MN, son, Joseph (Jessica) Weiss of Lions Bay, British Columbia, Canada; grandchildren, Joslyn & Caleb Weiss; brothers, John Kummet and George (LyAnn) Kummet all of Pierz, MN and a sister, Maureen Voltin of Eden Prairie, MN. She was preceded in death by her daughter Vanessa Weiss, in 2003 and her parents, Joseph and Clara Kummet. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Vanessa Weiss Memorial Scholarship Fund, % Farmers & Merchants Bank, 80 North Main Street, Pierz, MN 56364