Mary "Nonnie" Crist

Mary A. "Nonnie" Crist, age 88, of Hastings, died peacefully on March 17, 2016, with family by her side at the Regina Nursing Home. Nonnie was born May 7, 1927, in Hastings to John P. and Agnes M. (Heinen) Karpen. She attended Hastings High School and graduated as salutatorian with the class of 1945. She went on to St. Scholastica College and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Home Economics in 1949. On July 8, 1950, at St. Boniface Church in Hastings, Nonnie was united in marriage to William J. Crist of Prescott. Prior to starting a family, Nonnie taught high school level Home Economics. Nonnie started golfing once the children were a little older, a love which continued into her early 80s. She won many local and area tournaments and was known for hitting a long ball right down the middle of the fairway. Nonnie and Bill enjoyed travel and spent their retirement years with winters in Panama City, Florida and summers here in Hastings. She was a kind, loving, and patient mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She also was a gifted artist and piano player. Her children now treasure the many oil paintings and water colors that she created. She was always available for family and friends, whether cooking wonderful meals; making granddaughters beautiful Christmas dresses or giving grandchildren advice on the golf course. As a devout Catholic, her faith gave her strength throughout her life and supported her and Bill through the untimely deaths of their sons, Mike, Bill, and Pat. She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, her husband Bill, and her son-in-law Mike Kranz. She is survived by her sisters, Maureen Fasbender and Joanne Grabowsky; her children, Maureen "Mo" Kranz of Hastings, Colleen (Tim) Callies of Lake Elmo, and John (Barb) Crist of Shoreview; grandchildren, Rebekka (Tyler) McCormick, Sarah Kranz, Shannon Riley, Brianna Kranz, Scott (Jill) Kranz, Benjamin Crist and Nicholas Crist; great grandchildren, Grace, Jonah and Eliah McCormick and Alec and Terra Mahoney. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 22, 2016 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 2035 West Fifteenth Street, Hastings with Fr. T.J. McKenzie officiating. Private family interment will follow at a later date. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Monday, March 21, 2016, at Caturia-Smidt Funeral Home Cremation Services, 201 East Seventh Street, Hastings and one hour prior to the funeral at the church.