Mary E. Farning

Mary E. Farning, age 77, of Medford, died Friday, July 12, 2024 at her home while under the care of Hope Hospice.

Mary was born June 13, 1947 in Wausau to Dennis and Emilie (Jaken) Gilles. She attended St. Anthony School in Athens, St. Mary’s Academy in Prairie de Chien, St. Francis School of Nursing and Viterbo University in LaCrosse, Milton College in Milton and Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee.

She married Donald Farning on April 4, 1970 in Wausau. He died April 3, 2012.

Mary worked as a registered nurse for 45 years. She was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Medford, Holy Rosary Council of Christian Women and the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nurses.

She is survived by her sons, Mark J. Farning of Eau Claire, Paul G. (Emily) Farning of Colchester, VT; granddaughter, Lucy June Farning of Colchester, VT; sisters, Gail Slater of Burnsville, MN, Marcy Gilles of Eden Prairie, MN, Margo McCloskey of Voorhees, NJ; brothers, Gary Gilles of Merrill, Mark (Mary) Gilles of Golden, CO, John Gilles of Chandler, AZ; and many nieces and nephews. She is further survived by her canine companion, Kona.

She was preceded in death by her husband Donald, her parents, infant brother Dennis Joseph, brother-in-law William Slater, nephew Michael J. Slater and sister-in-law Carol Gilles.

A private service will be held for family. Instead of a service for the public Mary requests that you do an act of kindness for someone. Burial will be at the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spooner, WI.

Memorials can be made to Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Medford in Mary’s honor or to the family to be used according to their wishes.

Special thanks are extended to those who cared for Mary, especially the staff at Aspirus Medford Infusion Center, Aspirus Cancer Center in Wausau and Hope Hospice.

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