Fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church, Thursday November 20, 2025.
Beloved wife of the late Walter M. Gerau; loving mother of Mary (Dennis) Costello, Betty (Bill) Hardin, Ann (Mark) Buechter, Susan (Jim) Penrose, Margaret (Tim) Haber, Wally (Lanette), Bob (Sharon), David (Jennifer) and the late Danny (surviving Kelly) Gerau; dear grandmother of Aaron (Catie), Jennifer, Jacob and Katherine (David) Costello, Pat (Becky) and Chris (Addie) Hardin, the late Amber (surviving Grayson) Tarbox, Chelsea (Ben) Auton, Nathan Buechter, Daniel and Gabriel Penrose, the late Timmy, Grace and the late Anna Haber, Luke Gerau, Kristen (Evan) Jones, Taylor, Zach, Bryan (Darby) , Kevin, Sadie and Cassie Gerau; dear great-grandmother of Abby, Evan, Nora and Levi Costello, Henry and Jack Hardin, Faustina, Zellie and Bernadette Auton, Kynareth Buechter, Danny & Tommy Gerau; dear sister of Jane Gray, Grace and the late Tom and Fred Padberg; dear aunt, great-aunt and friend.
Services: Visitation at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church (5020 Rhodes Ave, St. Louis, MO 63109) Saturday November 29th, 8:30 AM until funeral mass at 10:30 AM. Interment at Sunset Cemetery. Memorials to St. Vincent DePaul Society at Our Lady of Sorrows appreciated.
God’s Peace and comfort be with family and friends. I know she will be greatly missed. I feel so blessed that Mary touched my life. I’m unable to attend funeral mass I’ll be in Tennessee then. But all will be in my thoughts and prayers.
A very dear friend of mine. Friends since 1947. Sophomores at Norte Dame. Mary was a kind, thoughtful loving person. Always made a person feel important. She was a wonderful mother and a great wife. We had a lot of laughs and good times in our little crowd of high school friends. She will be so missed. Loved her as a sister. You all, Gerau family on your loss of this great lady.
Grace, my deepest sympathy to you and all of your sister’s family. She must have been a most loving person. I see the many lives she had aa hand in creating in God’s plan. I can tell a bit about her, having met and shared and prayed with you. May she have eternal rest in the heavenly kingdom. I will remember her (and all of you, her family) in my Masses and prayers. Al Hauser
Mary was a very loving lady; one of my favorite cousins. Always friendly & caring. She had many talents- cooking,baking & sewing , always made people feel welcomed! Caring for her large family surely was a challenge- but Mary was in control with God’s graces n blessings. My prayers are going out to her and the family. She will be greatly missed. God be with you ALL!
I did not know Mary personally. However, Mary had a profound impact on our son John. John creates beautiful rosaries through Olvera Street Rosary. Mary began ordering rosaries as special gifts for her family from John, a few years ago. John and Mary have been pen pals ever since. John kept all of Mary’s notes. They shared a love of faith and our Blessed Mother. John told us this morning that his friend Mary passed away. He was very sad. I told him he now has another advocate among the Communion of Saints. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and all who love Mary, Peace.
Mary was such a dear cousin and a beautiful and wonderful lad, both inside and out. Mary never forgot my Birthday and sent me a card every year for over 60+ years. When my children were young, she would have us over during the holidays, but wouldn’t come over to ours – said she had too many to kids to bring over. Mary and Wally were like the perfect couple. Embracing Christ in everything they did. My thoughts, prayers and love are with all of you.
Our hearts are broken but we are grateful that Aunt Mary has been relieved of her suffering. She was a wonderful aunt to my sister and I, my cherished godmother, and a role model for Christian living. Rest in peace.
I’m so sorry to hear of Mary‘s passing. She was a very good friend to my mother, Audrey Kohnen, for many years in their South city neighborhood. They walked over to Sorrows Church through the alley many many days. I hope she and my mother get to see each other and share eternal friendship together!
Dear Mary, I am so sad t0 realize I won’t be calling you on the phone or sending cards and letters to you, to hear your laugh when I said something funny. We grew up together and shared so many life events, we married a month apart, watched our children grow up, and even though our years in Germany caused a physical separation, we stayed in close touch. Give Tom and Fred a hug for me. I love you!
Words cannot express to Mary’s family and friends our deepest sympathy over the loss of such a wonderful and devoted person. We volunteered with her and Walter at the Covenant Network Radio Station on Hampton. We enjoyed the best of times and she leaves behind great memories shared by our group of volunteers. Mary was the pillar that held her family together. She gave her all to Our Lady of Sorrows Church. She has gained her angel wings and has been reunited with Walter, Danny, and family members. To her children, she nurtured you when you were small, guided you as you grew up and was deeply proud of you, her unconditional love for you will always remain. She will continue to dwell within your heart, and her lasting spirit of life will also continue to guide you. Her love for you will now become a source of strength and comfort from above and always. Keep her memories close to your heart. May God’s blessings and love be with you during this most difficult time.
Dear Gerau family, Mary was a very beautiful Catholic Christian soul who blessed us & shared Jesus’ love with so many of us. I felt her love & comfort early on as a shy little friend of Ann’s & you sisters at your Finkman home My sisters & I always enjoyed seeing her over the years & hearing about your large family. Jesus is with you all as you say goodbye to her. May your memories give you deep peace on her lasting endeavors in life!
To my aunt who made the best Swedish meatballs, my favorite holiday parties were at your house when it was bursting at the seams with people, love, and laughter on the first floor and in the basement. Say hi to my dad for me.
Mary and Denny , Children , and your Siblings Mary .
I was very saddened to see of the passing of Your Dear Mother .
Remember and Cherish All of your Wonderful Memories . May God Bless The Family ,I will keep you in my Prayers .
To all of the Gerau family, we are so glad to have known Mrs. Gerau. She and your dad were such good friends to our parents (Jake and Anna Marie), and mom’s best friend. Mrs. Gerau was always so friendly to me. I enjoyed seeing her and your dad at the german dances, and chatting at other family events. She was such a dear person. And through her, I had the pleasure of meeting Mary, Betty, Susan and Margaret. Please accept condolences from the Potje family and know that we are thinking of you. May God bless you all.
Kathleen L