Mary Ann Penley

Mary Ann "Marylou" Penley, 74, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at Prairie Senior Cottages, Albert Lea, MN after fighting a losing battle with dementia. She was born in Dayton, Ohio on 16 June 1951. The family moved to Albert Lea, MN when she was a small child. She graduated from Albert Lea High School and went to work. Later in life she decided to go back to school at Riverland Community College for a degree in Human Services. Mary married John Penley on 22 October 1994. They joined together a blended family; Mary's three children, Tanya, Ellie and Wade from a previous marriage and John's twins daughters, JoEllen and Joyce from his previous marriage.

Mary and her husband loved to travel. They traveled all around the US, to the Caribbean Islands and several trips to the Hawaiian Islands. She loved Hawaii the most.

She celebrated 46 years of sobriety. That was the thing she was most proud of, other than her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved going to AA meetings and volunteering at AA for everything she could. Everyone was her friend.

She worked in the restaurant/retail and medical fields all her adult life. She served an internship for her Human Servies degree at Austin PD as a helper in parole department.

She is survived by her husband, John. Two sisters and two brothers, Linda (Calvin)

Beebe, Rochester, MN; Kimberly Seadlund, Albert Lea, MN; Terry Carlson, Albert Lea, MN (Thorncrest Senior Living) and Marcus Carlson (Pam), Garfield, MN. Five children, Tanya Goette, Cedar Rapids, IA; Ellie Olson (Mike), Granite Falls MN; Wade Steven, Clarks Grove, MN, JoEllen Haack Penley, Albert Lea, MN; Joyce Souper Penley, Albert Lea, MN. Eleven grandchildren, Serena Olson (Nick), Granite Falls, MN; Brandon Steven (Lita), Granite Falls, MN; Brooke Olson, Granite Falls, MN; Kevin Goette (Krystel), Cedar Rapids, IA; Darcy Bailey (David), Cedar Rapids, IA; Justice Hopperstad (Marty), Northwood, IA; Katelyn Everett (Garret), Alden, MN; Liley Steven, Geneva, MN; Vanessa Penley, Albert Lea, MN; Jeremy Haack, Albert Lea, MN: Jordan Haack, Hanley Falls, MN. Nine great-grandchildren, Weston Jay, Evalina Rose, Veronica Faye, Eli David, Bodie, Archer Wade, Elise Serinity Kay, Leo Eric, Salem Rayne and two more on their way. Multiple nieces, grand nieces, nephews and grand nephews.

She was proceeded in death by her mother Eva (Belle) Carlson, her dad Alvin Dale Carlson, a brother, Larry Carlson. All her grandparents.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday March 21st at Bonnerup Funeral & Cremation Service, 2210 East Main Street, Albert Lea, 56007, with a visitation from 11 to 1 PM, and a memorial service beginning at 1 PM.