Mary C. Proden

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She spent her life caring for others, loving her family fiercely, and finding joy in the ordinary moments that make a life extraordinary.

Mary Carolyn (Hoffman) Proden, 79, of Ladysmith, passed away on July 29, 2026, in Marshfield following complications from heart surgery.

Mary was born to Elaine and Edwin Hoffman on April 19, 1947, at Rusk County Memorial Hospital in Ladysmith. The oldest of 12 children, she was raised in Ladysmith as part of a large, hardworking Catholic family. Mary attended Our Lady of Sorrows Grade School and Servite High School before pursuing her calling in nursing through St. Joseph’s nursing program in Marshfield, where she became a Registered Nurse.

Mary’s life was a true testament to service and caring for others. Throughout her career, she worked as a labor and delivery nurse at Rusk County Memorial Hospital, at the Ladysmith Nursing Home, and as a home health care nurse, a profession she continued until the time of her death. Her compassion and genuine desire to help others touched countless lives, both professionally and personally.

While attending school at St. Joseph’s in Marshfield, Mary met Kenneth “Ken” Joseph Proden, the love of her life. They were married on August 3, 1968, and together built a life and raised five children on their dairy farm in Ladysmith.

Mary’s love was contagious, and in return, all loved her. Mary routinely set aside her own interests to support the people she loved. She embraced the interests and adventures of her children and grandchildren as if they were her own, always providing encouragement, enthusiasm, and an abundance of positive energy.

Mary was selfless, kind, generous, dependable, hardworking, compassionate, loving, fierce, spunky, adventurous, and so much more. If you knew Mary, you know this is no exaggeration and you also knew that you were her favorite. Mary was the anchor of her family, and her absence will be deeply felt.

Mary loved life and had a gift for making even its smallest moments special. Her trips to Alaska and Oregon to visit her sons Pat, Mark, and Shaun and their families brought her tremendous joy, as did spending time closer to home with Kim, Eric, and their families. She appreciated life’s simple pleasures, an enjoyable book, ice cream before bed, and baking cookies that frequently traveled with her for the grandchildren. She loved taking long walks with her Samoyed dogs, which she considered the second-best thing to more children.

Mary spent her life caring for others, loving her family fiercely, and finding joy in the ordinary moments that make a life extraordinary. She leaves behind a family strengthened by her example, countless people touched by her kindness, and a legacy of love and service that will continue through all who knew her.

Mary was an amazing mother and grandmother who cared deeply and unconditionally for her family. Her family was the center of her life.

Mary was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, nurse, and friend. She is survived by her husband, Ken; her children, Pat (Amy), Kim (John), Mark, Shaun (Sommer), and Eric (Kristin); special niece Kristi (Mike); grandchildren Ethan, Aaron, Dylan, Daisy, Luke, Finn, Matthew, and Beckett; and her siblings, Duane of Iron Mountain, Michigan; Donald (Jacki) of Black River Falls, Wisconsin; Roger (Monna) of Dayton, Ohio; Jeanne Bowe (Gale) of Sparta, Wisconsin; Catherine Ryba (Ken) of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin; Marlene Sullivan (Quintin) of Green Lake, Wisconsin; Lawrence (Kim) of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin; Barbara Fischer (Mark) of Centennial, Colorado; and Patricia Bunders (Roger) of Cottage Grove, Wisconsin.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Elaine (Hytry) and Edwin Hoffman; her brothers, Paulie and Dennis; her sister-in-law, Joan Hoffman; her niece, Cassandra Bunders; and her great-niece, Delainey Hayden.

Mary’s family extends its sincere gratitude to the entire Hoffman family, the Fuchs family, Mike and Jackie, and the Proden family, Dave and Julie, for their unwavering love and support during this difficult time.

A celebration of Mary’s life will be held later this year.

A complete obituary will also be published in the Ladysmith News.