Mass of Christian Burial for Mary Gabbert, age 61, of Meadow, SD, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 at the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Bison, SD. Fr. Ed Vanorny and Fr. Tony Grossenburg will officiate with a private family burial to be held at a later date.

Mary Susan Sweeney was born June 7, 1955 in Rapid City, SD to John and Carmel (Elbert) Sweeney.  She attended school in Rapid City, graduating from Saint Martin's Academy in 1973.   Following high school, Mary attended Mount Marty College in Yankton, SD  graduating in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and Education.  In 1986 she obtained a Master's of Education Degree from South Dakota State University at Brookings.

Jack and Mary were introduced by a mutual friend  and were married July 6, 1991 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral in Rapid City.

During her career, Mary was a Guidance Counselor for Dupree School from 1986-1989, the Alternative Transitional Center in Gillette, WY from 1989-1993 and McLaughlin School District from 1997-2013.

She was coordinator of Elementary Teacher's Team and Character Counts Program and a member of the South Dakota Counseling Association

Mary passed from this life on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 at the West River Regional Medical Center in Hettinger, ND.

She is survived by her husband John (Jack), Meadow, SD; brother John (Ann) Sweeney, Carrol, IA, brothers-in-laws, Jim Gabbert, Canmore, AB, Canada; Mark (Penny) Gabbert, Hartzel, CO; sister-in-law Dottie (Don) Borowski, Rapid City, SD; nieces, Donell (Carl) Bergin, Katelyn and Hailey Bergin of Meadowlands, MN, Dana Borowski of Spearfish and Dakota Gabbert of Roatan, Honduras; nephews, David Borowski and Aaron Tovar of Chicago, Illinois and Brady Borowski (and his special friend, Madison Selk) of Spearfish; aunts Evelyn Wagner, Rose Elbert, and numerous cousins.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established by the family.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established.