Mary L. Plante

We will be having a Celebration of life/Birthday party for Mary on August 1st, 2020 at Dorsey E. Earl Smith Funeral Home. The celebration will be from 2-5 pm and we ask that you come ready with your favorite Mary stories!

Plante, Mary (Rachac)

August 3, 1934 – April 20, 2020

Monday, April 20, 2020, Mary Ludmilla Plante did a polka dance thru the gates of heaven joining her beloved husband, Tom. Mary was 85 years young and had been battling kidney disease and other health issues for several years. She never let that decrease her zest for life.

She was born August 3, 1934 to William F. and Julia (Daleiden) Rachac in New Prague, Minnesota. With her father in the Navy, she spent part of her childhood in San Diego, CA, and Washington DC. When living in New Prague, Mary attended grade school at St. Wenceslaus Catholic School and then went to the all-girls school of Villa Maria Academy in Frontenac, MN for her high school years. She was involved in many sports and other activities and graduated as salutatorian of her class. She earned her RN degree at St. Catherine’s University in Minnesota.

After starting her career, she met the love of her life, Thomas Plante, when he was a patient under her care. They married in 1955, lived in Minneapolis, MN and started a family within a year. Her first 3 children followed in rapid succession and she dedicated herself to her greatest career of motherhood. In 1959, Honeywell transferred Tom to Florida and they continued their life adventures in the Sunshine state. There they completed their family with 3 more offspring.

While raising 6 children, Mary volunteered at our schools and around the village and, as if 6 was not enough, took care of other children after school. During elections, she was a poll worker, and took on many other small jobs throughout her life. She went back to college and earned a degree in special education to begin a 13-year teaching career where she inspired even more children to do their best and strive for their goals.

The ‘newlywed for life’ couple loved to travel, and when their offspring flew the nest, they would take off to visit family and friends and explore the country. When her ‘boyfriend’, as she loved to call dad, passed away in 1999, she went to work for Dorsey Funeral Home as a greeter, comforting those going through the heartbreak she felt and making many friends with her cheerful disposition and comforting presence. She was a part of their staff for 11 years.

She continued her travels as long as her health allowed and volunteered at the Lake Worth Playhouse as an usher to occupy her time. She was creative and loved to do various crafts, dabbling in stained glass, mosaics, knitting and crocheting and enjoyed playing cards.

Mary is preceded in death by her husband, parents and brother, William Rachac, Jr. She will be deeply missed by those left behind, including her brother John (Shari) Rachac, her children Michael (Cathy) Plante, Matthew (Patricia) Plante, Corinne (Rick) Dorey, Gregory (Theresa) Plante, Margaret Rodweller, Christopher Plante, 14 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and a myriad of nieces, nephews relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made in the name of Mary Plante to USO or Trustbridge Hospice. There will be visitation on Friday, May 8th from 4 – 8 pm at Dorsey – E. Earl Smith Funeral Home in Lake Worth. The Mass celebrating her life will be held at 10 am May 9th, 2020 at Holy Name Catholic Church in West Palm Beach, FL.

***UPDATE***

We will be having a Celebration of life/Birthday party for Mary on August 1st, 2020 at Dorsey E. Earl Smith Funeral Home. The celebration will be from 2-5 pm and we ask that you come ready with your favorite Mary stories!

Additional Trustbridge donation information: Reference Mary Plante (the Sunshine team)

Trustbridge foundation.org

561-494-6887 or 877-494-6890

Trustbridge/Hospice Foundation

5300 East Ave.

WPB, FL 33407