Wineva "Wendy" Moret

Wendy Moret died peacefully at age 88 at River’s Edge Hospital in St. Peter on August 14. Until the end, she was laughing with family, friends and caretakers, listening to music, watching the birds outside her window and Westerns on TV, and enjoying life.

Memorial Service is Friday, August 25 with visitation at 9:30 a.m. and the service at 10:30 at Hosanna Lutheran Church, 105 Hosanna Drive, Mankato. If you knew Wendy or a member of her family, please join us. Lunch will be served. Burial is at Glenwood Cemetery.

Wendy was born as Wineva Kosters on Nov. 22, 1934 near Doon, Iowa, the daughter of Henry and Kate Kosters, whom she loved dearly. She grew up on her parents’ farm with her four siblings and graduated from Sioux Center High School. She married Marvin Moret in 1954 and began her life as a housewife and mother, which she called her dream job.

The family moved to Mankato in 1967 after a year in Mound, a Minneapolis suburb. Prior to that, the family lived in Boyden, Iowa with many relatives nearby. She raised five children and later babysat for numerous grand-children and great grand-children and adored all of them—“even when they were naughty,” she would say and chuckle.

Wendy and Marvin were owners of the Belle Mar Video store in Mankato for 18 years. This was in addition to Marv’s career with SuperAmerica.

When not occupied with children, Wendy had various interests, including playing sports (volleyball, tennis, golf and softball, where she was a pitcher), and she enjoyed being with her many friends. “Travel while you can” was something that she advised her children, and her favorite trips were to Hawaii, Mexico and Europe, especially London.

In early retirement, she volunteered for nearly a decade, including for VINE and Lutheran Social Services. Speaking about that volunteering recently, she said, “Those who can help should help.” She also worked as a teacher’s aide.

Raised on a farm among small Iowa towns, Wendy honored traditions but was not narrow minded, and she was open to new information and cultural changes. Wendy attended churches regularly including Hosanna Lutheran, and she cherished these words: “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” —Deuteronomy 31:8

Surviving family members include sister Hendrine “Kathy” Daniels and brother Dennis Kosters, children Kathy Donahue (Todd) of Waseca, Kirk Moret (Cheryl) of Mankato, Kevin Moret of Mankato, Daniel Loren Moret (Paula Staight) of Eugene, Oregon, and Mike Moret (Brenda) of North Mankato. Wendy loved her 9 grandchildren: Kayla Lee (Scott), Kyle Moret (Emily), Katie Moret, Adam Moret, Christopher Moret (Karen), Daniel K. Moret, Kelly Jamieson (Jon), Mark Moret (Angie) and Matt Moret. And cherished 13 great grandchildren: Madison Donahue; Tony, Liv and Vinny Moret; Nealyn, C.J., and Pixie Moret; Jaxon Phillips, Lowen and Romee Jamison; Jayda and Eli Becker; and Jack Moret. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Marvin (died in 2014), brothers Alvin and Kenneth, grandson Michael Donahue and granddaughter Kirsten Donahue.

Wendy and her family would like to thank her teams from Moments Hospice and Visiting Angels, her many friends, and her neighbors at the Townhouses at Country Club for their great kindness, friendship and support.

Wendy, as she would tell people, had lived a long, good life, and she was at peace with knowing that she was reaching the end of her life’s journey. The one regret that she would mention was that she never learned to play the piano.

Her frequent advice when saying good-bye to people toward the end was, “Take care of each other.”