Mary Kathryn Hamm passed away on March 17, 2024, after a long, beautiful life, five days shy of her 93rd birthday.

Visitation will take place at the United Presbyterian Church on Thursday, April 25, 2024 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. with a service celebrating Mary's life at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Steve Keller presiding. A luncheon will immediately follow at Spring Brook Resort.

Born on March 22, 1931, Mary was one of seven children born to Clara and Attilio Ciatti. Attilio was a first-generation immigrant from northern Italy. From her feisty father, Mary inherited a zest for life, as well as a sense of playfulness and good humor that lasted her entire life. Mary's maternal grandparents came from Norway. From her sweet mother, Mary was blessed with empathy, kindness, generosity, and a desire to help others. Mary was born in Pence, Wisconsin, up in the north woods where her father worked in the iron ore mines. Mary graduated from Hurley High School and met her husband, Jerry, when she came to Wisconsin Dells for summer work. Jerry and Mary married and settled in the Dells. Married for 68 years, they were a team, and she struggled mightily after his passing. But in those few years since and in spite of her grief, she continued to make good friends and to lighten hearts and delight those around her.

Mary's life was filled with family and friends and ways to give. Probably as a way to escape her seven children, Mary worked outside the home during the summer months. From Thompson's Ranch House to Camp Upham Woods, Camp Wawbeek, St Vincent de Paul and Thunder Valley, she was always pulled by a desire to give and help others.  But Mary was at her best, nurturing one-on-one, and many were the fortunate who were blessed to live in her basement for a time and those who fell temporarily under Mary's loving care in that basement apartment, were blessed with muffins and more food than they could eat.

As nurturing and delicious as her baked goods were, Mary's real gift to others was her nonjudgemental, unconditional love, playful and positive way of looking at the world, and always, always her steadfast, common sense, and encouraging approach to life. She lived by doing the next right thing. She is remembered by her children as the mom who was at every event every one of them ever had. And she and Jerry continued that tradition for the local grandkids. If you knew Mary, you loved her, it was that simple. She lived a small, unfancy life, full of people and love and work and laughter.

Mary is proceeded in death by her husband, Jerry, her parents Attilio and Clara Ciatti, her brothers Clarence, Emil, Jim, and Poncho, her sister Lorraine, and her son Mike. She is survived by her brother Fred, and by six children: Jaci Elliot, Mark (Julie) Hamm, Jody Gilbertson, Jill (Buster) Day, Juli (Dar) Mor, Jennifer (Eric) Gregerson, and by 15 grandchildren: Tara Anchor, Lewis Borck, Kristie Hamm, Anna Lange, Todd Hamm, Natalia McDaniel, Matt Munson, Willie Day, Tyler Day, Waylan Day, Alex Mor, Nick Mor, Jon Mor, Jake Gregerson, and Leif Gregerson, and by 21 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations on Mary's behalf may be made to either the United Presbyterian Church or Agrace Hospice.