LITTLEFORK – As soon as kindergarten students in Nicole Kennedy’s class returned from lunch Monday, they immediately got in line to give their classroom visitor – Mary Thydean – a big hug.
“I’m so excited to see you, grandma Mary,” said one student as she flung her arms around Thydean’s neck.
Another student told Thydean he had missed her as he went in for a welcoming embrace.
The five minutes of greetings is a Monday ritual in Kennedy’s classroom and has been for quite some time. For the past 10 years, Thydean has been donating her time to read weekly stories to elementary students attending Littlefork-Big Falls School.
“I read every Monday to the kindergarten, Tuesday to the first grade, Thursday is third grade and Friday I visit the second graders,” the 85-year-old said. “I absolutely love it.”
Where it all began
In 2004, Thydean’s granddaughter attended school in Ollie Paul’s kindergarten class. Paul has since retired, but Thydean recalled Paul asking if she would be interested in reading to the students.
Having operated a daycare for several years, Thydean said she missed being around children and because she “didn’t have anything else to do,” she took Paul up on the offer.
Ten years later, she can’t picture her life without the weekly visits to the school to read.
“This is part of my life,” she said. “I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t come here every week to do this.”
Christopher Bachmeier, L-BF principal, said Thydean is an important part of students’ lives.
“Our students not only get the opportunity to hear a story from her, but the students also get the chance to connect with a person from another generation,” he said. “There are too many of our kids that never get the opportunity to have a grandparent and grandma Mary gives our students the opportunity for all of our students to gain a relationship with a person from the older generation.”
What do we call you?
As Thydean’s weekly visits became more and more permanent, Paul was unsure of what students should call their beloved visitor.
Thydean had a suggestion.
“I said, ‘Well, my name is Mary and I’m a grandma, how about grandma Mary?’” she said with a smile.
The nickname stuck and she proudly said she has hundreds – if not thousands – of grandchildren she’s come to know and love throughout the decade.
“I have 18 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren of my own,” she said. “But all the students are my grandchildren. I love them all – I know the good ones and the ones that get into mischief. I love them all.”
Part of L-BF
Thydean has been a resident of the Littlefork community since 1968 when she moved to the area from Big Fork. Upon her arrival, she owned and operated the restaurant downtown which was called the Northwood Cafe at the time.
Thydean had the business for 10 years until medical reasons forced her to give it up. She then opened a daycare which she operated until 2001.
“I’ve been reading to the kids pretty much ever since,” she said.
Thydean listed the books she’s reading the respective grades and admits after reading the popular stories for 10 years, she can almost recite the words by heart.
“It’s what the kids like, so I like it,” she said of reading “Junie B. Jones” and “Little House on the Prairie.”
Thydean rarely misses her weekly visits to the school and has only had to cancel a handful of times because of an illness or medical appointment.
“Coming here is a reason to get out of bed, so I don’t miss it too often,” she said.
In fact, a few years ago when Thydean had hip replacement surgery, she had to spend time in the Littlefork Medical Center. Instead of going without her “grandchildren” for too long, they came to her.
“They visited me in the care center so I could read to them,” she said. “They’re so special.”
And L-BF staff and administrators have mutual feelings toward Thydean.
“I feel that grandma Mary is very much part of the L-BF family,” Bachmeier said. “Our school appreciates grandma Mary for donating her time and the service that she brings to our school. Many of our students talk about how great it is to have her read to them...Too often I think we as a society overlook what a person does in our community and take their generosity for granted, and I did not want that to happen with such a great lady giving back to our students.”
When asked what she enjoys most about coming to read to so many smiling faces week after week, Thydean didn’t even have to think about her answer.
“The hugs,” she said. “I love their hugs. I hope to be getting hugs for another 10 years.”
