Carol M. McNeary

Carol Marie McNeary, age 91 danced a final Irish Jig into eternity on November 1st, 2025, the feast of All Saints Day.

Carol was born in North St Paul on Christmas Day 1933, to George and Grace McIntyre, the middle child of 7 children. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandma, daughter, sister, teacher and friend. She attended St Peter’s Catholic School through 8th grade and graduated from North St Paul High School in 1954 where she enjoyed the arts and developed an interest in becoming a teacher. She paid her way through St Cloud State University working at Woolworths and the St Paul Post Office.

Her first teaching job was in Upsala Minnesota where she caught the eye of the principal Ed McNeary. They married in 1960 and followed teaching jobs and lived in Holdingford, Racine, WI, Fridley, North St Paul, Randolph and settled on Malcolm Avenue in Hastings in 1972. Along the way, Maureen, Kathleen, Colleen, James and Eileen were born. Carol and Ed always shared parenting and household duties and had live-in help from Grandma Grace and Grandpa George.

Carol enjoyed a 38 year teaching career, most of it spent at Cannon Falls High School. She loved running into her former students and sharing memories with them.

Carol was a selfless caregiver to her husband Ed as his health declined with cancer and resiliently lived the next 18 years of her life keeping his memory alive.

Family was everything to Carol and Carol was everything to her family. She made friends easily and her Christmas card list grew every year. The family is grateful for the care given by Senior Helpers and the entire staff at Regina Hospital. Her faith was always important to her and she was blessed in her friendships with the priests and religious sisters in her life. She wanted to stay in her home and was able to live out her life independently.

Carol is preceded in death by her parents George and Grace McIntyre, her beloved husband Ed, her sisters Margaret McIntyre, Peg Lamb, Georgiann Newberry, her brother Tom McIntyre, sisters-in-law Margaret Oliver, Mary Finnegan, Dorothy Sundem, Melva McNeary, brothers-in-law Bill Oliver, Barney Finnegan, Elmer Sundem, Bob Newberry and Jim McNeary.

Carol is survived by her children Maureen McNeary (Terry Sieben), Kathleen McNeary (Kerry Glenn), Colleen Moran (Ramon Moran), Jim McNeary (Ellen McNeary), Eileen McNeary (Jorge de Jesus), grandchildren Grace and Jack Sieben, Margaret and Molly Moran, Margaret and Bridget McNeary, Jorge McNeary and siblings Pat McIntyre, Colleen Bakri, sister-in-law Susan McIntyre, brothers-in-law Tom Lamb, Mudhafar Bakri and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, November 10, 2025, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Hastings. Interment will follow at the parish cemetery.

Family and friends are cordially invited to a visitation from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., with a 5:00 p.m. Prayer Vigil on Sunday afternoon, November 9, 2025, at Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel of Hastings, and for one hour prior to the Mass at church on Monday morning.

In lieu of flowers, memorials appreciated to the SEAS Sharing & Caring Ministry, a mission she supported through volunteerism, financially and through prayer.

Arrangements are being completed by Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel of Hastings.