Mary Ellen Charnoski

Mary Ellen Charnoski, age 68, of Redby, Minnesota, entered the Spirit World on Sunday, October 22, 2023 at Sanford Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota, surrounded by loved ones after a lengthy battle with ALS.  Mary was born to McKinley and Marcella Auginash on January 8, 1955.

Mary attended school in Red Lake, Mankato and graduated from Red Lake in 1973. Mary was a 2008 Graduate of the Red Lake Nation College while maintaining a 4.0 GPA and making The President’s List. Mary was a Community Health Tech for the Redby District and also worked as a Billing Clerk for Red Lake Chemical Health Program before retiring in 2010 due to health concerns. Mary was a mentor to many, helping her friends to walk the Red Road of Sobriety and providing temporary employment to them. Mary liked going to the casino to play her free play, going to pow-wows, yard sales, cooking, Sewing Regalia and moccasins and winning awards for her fry bread. Mary was the Red Lake Indian Princess for the 1972-73 years.

Mary married her High School Sweetheart, Thomas Charnoski in 1974 and had 2 children, Tamera Lyn and Thomas Jr. Mary was blessed with 3 grandchildren, December, Hayden and Makinley of Redby, Minnesota and great-grandson Jace of Mesa, Arizona; special grandsons Kameron Roy and Dean Fairbanks

Those waiting to greet Mary in the Spirit World are Joseph and Susan Johnson, Fred and Jeanette Auginash, McKinley and Marcella Auginash; siblings Darrell (Corkey) Auginash; Ardelle Tikayne; daughter Tamera Charnoski; special nephews Andy Auginash and Jared Johnson; niece Lucinda Auginash and granddaughter Makinley Charnoski; and many other family members.

Mary is survived by husband Thomas Charnoski; son Thomas (Nicole Roy) Charnoski Jr; daughter Karley M. Sayers; December (Tyrell) Charnoski; siblings Kathy Johns, Mitchell (Rochelle) Johnson, Roxanne (Darrell) Johnson, Susan Auginash, Trudy (Bear) Kingbird, Bill (Phylis) Auginash, Fred (Bridget) Auginash, Gerry Auginash, and Richard Schulman; special daughters Janet Head, Kaleigh Head, Bobbi Jo Cobenais, Misty Charnoski, Madison Sayers and Tanya Auginash; special sons Justin & Jamie Auginash, Keveon Kingbird, many nieces and nephews on both sides of her family that she loved dearly and many other family members and friends.

The wake will begin at 1:00 PM on Thursday, October 26, 2023 at the Redby Community Center and continue until the service at 1:00 PM on Saturday, October 28, 2023 with Fr. John Christianson officiating. Active Pallbearers will be Chad Auginash, Ian Auginash, Ryan Auginash, Ryan Roy, Ray Charnoski, Robin “Obbie” Auginash, Charlie “Whee” Charnoski and Donovan Wind. Honorary Pallbearers will be Carol Charnoski, Evelyn Thompson, Olga Hanson, Mary Ann Cook, Brandi Jourdain, Joyce Graves, Donna Campbell, Nellie, Ashlyn, Amanda and Angela Charnoski, Beth Roy, Nicole Roy, Jessie Cook, Vernelle Lussier, Bridget “Bee” Auginash, Karen Ramirez, Deanna Lasley, Lindsey Westbrook, Jeanie Donnell, Brenda Child, Darilyn Johnson and Rochelle Johnson. Burial will be in the Charnoski Family Burial Grounds.

Arrangements provided by Whispering Pines Funeral & Cremation Service of Walker & Hackensack, Minnesota.

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