Support the Pritchard Family After a Tragic & Senseless Loss

Dear Friends, Family, and Compassionate Supporters,

We are heartbroken to share the tragic and untimely passing of Mary Pritchard, a beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. On March 6, 2025, Mary’s life was senselessly cut short when a drunk driver, recklessly speeding at 90 mph on a 35 mph residential street, struck her vehicle. This devastating incident occurred just blocks from her home as she returned from the grocery store with her grandchildren, having picked up fruit together to make smoothies while they did homework. Her grandchildren are still grappling with that day’s painful and fragmented memories. Mary and her grandchildren should have made it home safely; she should still be with us today, and her grandchildren should not have to carry this traumatic memory with them for the rest of their lives.

Mary was a beacon of hope, gratitude, humility, gentleness, and resilience. Despite surviving multiple tragedies in her youth, she dedicated her life to caring for others. Mary served as a Registered Nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, for several years before moving to Madison and continuing her career at Meriter Hospital for twelve more years. She was an active St. Maria Goretti parish member. She was deeply involved in our community, raising her four children with love and devotion. Mary was not only a mother to her children but also a second mom to all the neighborhood kids who filled her home with laughter throughout their youth. She was an avid animal lover, known for spoiling her two Yorkshire Terriers to an impressive degree.

As a grandmother, Mary was unwavering in supporting and caring for her grandchildren, providing after-school care, helping with homework, and cheering at sporting events. Her home was a haven of love, learning, and joy. She was a protector and a companion, having just begun to rebuild her life after the devastating losses of her son, Jason, to a violent shooting and her husband, Jim, to a terminal illness worsened by grief from the loss of their son. Mary had spent the better part of the last year putting plans in motion with her sister to focus on healing and setting new life goals, and she was just starting to regain her footing when this tragedy occurred.

In this time of immense grief, we humbly ask for your support. The funds raised will be used for:

Funeral and Headstone Costs: To honor Mary with a beautiful and respectful farewell and remembrance.

Legal Costs: For managing her estate and addressing any legal matters, allowing her children time to process their enormous loss.

Medical Bills: To support her grandchildren’s ongoing medical needs resulting from the accident.

Debt Avoidance: To help her immediate family avoid falling into debt due to these compounded losses over less than three years.

Your generosity will help alleviate Mary’s family’s financial burden, allowing them to focus on healing and cherishing the memories of a remarkable woman who touched so many lives. Any contribution, no matter how small, is deeply appreciated.

Thank you for your kindness and support during this unimaginable time.

With heartfelt gratitude,

The Pritchard Family