Marie Dero

Marie Dero, age 88, of Lake Miltona, passed away at Bethany Home on Friday, Aug. 9, 2013. Visitation & prayer service is scheduled at the Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria on Tuesday, Aug. 13 from 5 ? 8pm, with a 6:00 prayer service. A mass of Christian burial is scheduled at St. Nicholas Church in Belle River on Wed., Aug. 14 at 11:00 am with visitation 1 hr prior to the service. Fr. David Petron officiating. Music provided by Laurie Youngers and soloist, Tom Mulder. Internment at the St. Nicholas cemetery. Maria Irene (Szarzynski) Dero was born April 2, 1925 in Taunton, MN - daughter of Lewis P. & Cecilia (Bulowski) Szarzynski. She attended schools in Taunton, Minneota, and at the Villa Maria in Frontenac, MN. On Aug. 17, 1942, she was united in marriage to Lawrence A. Dero, son of Wilifred & Celina (DeBaere) Dero, at St. Edward?s Catholic Church in Minneota. They were blessed with 12 children. Marie & Lawrence owned & operated Dero Chevrolet Co. in Minneota for many years where she worked as the bookkeeper. After selling their business, along with the family home in 1977, they moved to their Lake Miltona home, which they purchased in 1964. In Alexandria, she worked at Project New Hope, St Luke?s Home, and was owner, manager of the Miltona Apts for many years. She loved her family dearly. She truly enjoyed the lake, wildlife, tending to the birds, the flowers, playing cards, and riding her golf cart to visit friends & neighbors. She was also a great cook and baker. She will be remembered as a good wife, mother, grandmother, & homemaker. Marie is survived by her 12 children, Larry Dero, Charlie Dero, Paul (Eldora) Dero, Ann Dero, Laura Sterling, Julie (Daryl) Gillund of Alexandria, Vicki (Tom) Bot of Ghent, MN, Pat (Paulette) Dero of Lynd, MN, Mary Joan (John) Hennen of Marshall, MN, Tom (Wanda) Dero of Berlin, MD, John (Lois) Dero of Minneota, MN, and Jeanette (Al) Brewers of Tallahassee, FL; two brothers, Joe Szarzynski of Edina, MN, & John (Barbara) of Upland, CA; 56 grandchildren & great grandchildren; along with numerous nieces & nephews. She was preceeded in death by her husband of 53 years, Lawrence in 1996, and sister Adeline Coleman.