Mary Jo Lesch

Age 83 of Monticello passed away April 9, 2026.

Mary Jo loved her family and she loved children.

Her husband Phil was the light of her life. His death preceded hers by over 16 years and she thought of him every one of those days. He loved her fiercely, he made her happy, and he made her feel safe. She loved him the same way. She provided for him food, and daily clothing advice (the guy couldn’t pick out a matching set of clothes to save his life), and supported him through the toughest times in his life.

She loved her siblings. She cared for them when they were young - fed them, changed diapers, and helped raise some of them in a deeply connected family. They loved her back with endless encouragement, hugs, visits, transportation, food, reminiscing, jokes and anything she could want.

She loved her three boys with all her heart, and without condition. She poured her life into them, and she was so proud of what they accomplished in life, the good things they did, and the way they helped people. She loved her daughters-in-law as her own, and appreciated the love and partnership they brought her sons.

Her grandchildren were her delight. She beamed with joy in every moment with them, or even seeing a photo of their beautiful faces. She gave every hour she could to caring for them, encouraging them, and helping to raise them in the tradition of love she came from. She could never hear enough about her grandchildren, and she loved just being in their presence and hearing them talk with each other.

She worked at Prudential for a few years before children, and in later years she worked at a pharmacy, but her whole life she loved children. When her siblings were young she cared for many of them. Then she had her own three boys. After her own children were older she began a daycare filling the house back up with more children (Matt, Kristin, Erika, Amy, Nick, and all the kids in her daycare she loved like her own children. She still talked about you and wondered about you 40 years later). She had a constant mind for play, learning and nurturing those little minds and hearts.

Her Catholic faith was strong throughout her life. She joined the convent briefly before deciding it as not her path. She believed in angels, prayer, forgiveness, and redemption. While there were some people she didn’t like (and she’d let you know it from time to time), she never counted anyone out and her annoyances easily dissolved into apology. She prayed the rosary and she pleaded to God for answers and for help, and often for help finding things (St. Anthony was often credited in her house). Church was very important to her. She and Phil were an active part of St. Joseph’s Church, leading Renew groups, marriage counseling, and regularly providing transportation to and from church for veterans at Mission Farms nursing home.

Mary Jo was full of love and giving and she treated each person like a child of God. She will want you to remember her in how you treat each person around you and in particular those who have the least to give back.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Philip; parents, Margaret and Joe Mullen; siblings, Jim Mullen, Colleen Peppard and Matt Mullen. She is survived by her sons, Tony (Rachael), John, and Jim (D’Ann); grandchildren, Benson, Collin, Morgan, Olivia, Alice, Eleanor, Eilah, Neva and Micah; siblings, Kathy Ryan (Mike), Margaret Markert (Bill), Joe Mullen, Patrick Mullen (Cathy), Maureen Waltman (Ed), Rosemary Zilmer (Ron), Tim Mullen (Suzanne), Mike Mullen (Pam); many nieces, nephews and friends. 

Mass of Christian burial 11 AM Saturday, April 25th, at the Church of St. Joseph, 8701 36th Avenue North, with visitation 1 hour prior to Mass.

Memorials preferred to donor's choice.