Muriel Pollock

Muriel R. Pollock (nee Metz)
Age 96 of White Bear Lake, formerly of Coon Rapids.

 Muriel Rose Metz Pollock Born 1/13/27- 10/28/23 96 years old. She is proceeded in death by infant granddaughter Jennifer Troup and daughter-in-law Mary Pollock. Muriel is survived by her children, Ron (Lee), Jackie (John) Troup, Russ, Joanne (Jim) Kohler and Teri (Craig) Carpenter; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren and other extended family members and friends.

A funeral Mass will take place at 11am on Tuesday, November 14th at St. Mary of the Lake Church, 4741 Bald Eagle Ave., White Bear Lake. Visitation begins 1 hour prior to Mass at church. Burial will take place at Epiphany Cemetery in Coon Rapids.

Born and raised in Delano Minnesota. She was the first born of five to her parents Addison and Edna Metz. Her father suddenly passed away when she was only 18 years old. She worked several jobs to help out. She moved to Coon Rapids, where she was a devoted wife for 42 years and an incredible mother to five kids spanning 16 years apart. She taught them all the most amazing and creative skills to last a lifetime- gardening, canning, cooking, baking and sewing to name a few. She was ahead of her time with composting, recycling and sustainable agriculture. She was very involved with the Church of Epiphany and became lifelong friends with Father Reiser. She did ceramics with the nuns in the convent, volunteered at the Epiphany dining hall every single year and was Father Reiser’s personal Christmas shopper.

 Muriel became a business woman at the age of 48. She opened up Acorn Handicrafts, a successful craft store where she worked alongside her three daughters making so many lasting friends and memories. She added a second location as well as a fabric store. When she closed her beloved store in 1987, she moved to White Bear Lake where she joined Saint Mary’s and became a mall walker. She did bus tours and made hundreds of stuffed animals, hats, scarves and mittens for her church and several shelters. She loved serving communion as a Eucharistic minister at Epiphany as well as Saint Mary’s.

 She also got the opportunity to travel with Father Reiser to Ireland, where she kissed the Blarney Stone and Germany, where Father Reiser asked her to get a stein of beer so he could smell it. Her favorite memory was in Medjugorje where she got to experience the visionaries. Her biggest passion was growing tomatoes. She enjoyed caring for them daily and sharing with everyone she knew. She started them by seed on Valentine’s Day and grew all different kinds including her favorite early girl bush. Her secret ingredient was sugar and she used miracle grow daily, even though the instructions said every three weeks. When you passed by her townhome people would look and see 6-foot tomato plants! She was lovingly referred to as the “tomato lady”. She loved her family fiercely and was a constant in her kids’ lives. She adored her nine grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren.

Eventually, she moved to Gable Pines where she enjoyed meeting new friends and doing activities, Monday night get together, the pub and Rosary group, her favorite. The last couple of years were getting harder for her but no matter what you were greeted with a beautiful smile. She would always ask, “is everyone OK??” Then, after you affirmed all good, she would then say, “I’m OK, I’m OK…” We were so blessed to have her with us for almost 97 years. We are still in disbelief that she’s gone as our resilient mom didn’t want to miss anything. She even outlived all four of her younger siblings and only had one remaining in-law. She will be missed more than words can express. We love you, Mom; you are the best of the best. We appreciate your constant in our lives and what you brought to the party. Love you forever, Ron, Jackie, Russ, Jo and Teri… XOXO