Lakeville teacher dies suddenly
A kindergarten teacher who had taught in Lakeville schools for 24 years died suddenly Monday night.
Maryjo Cummings, 59, was found by her mother in the kitchen of the Eagan home they shared at around 9:30 p.m., said Lakeville Area School District spokesperson Linda Swanson.
“It was natural causes and happened so suddenly,” Swanson said. “It was totally unexpected.”
She said Cummings’ mother went into the kitchen after she heard a noise and found Maryjo was unresponsive.
Swanson said crisis teams were in the schools to help students cope with the news.
Cummings had taught kindergartners at Christina Huddleston, Lake Marion and JFK elementary schools since 1989.
She was single and had no children, and considered her students like her own.
“Her kids were her world,” Swanson said.
Visitation will be held Friday, Feb. 1 from 4-8 p.m. at O’Halloran Murphy Funeral Home, 575 South Snelling Avenue, St. Paul.
Cummings’ funeral is at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 2 at the Church of St. Mark, 1983 Dayton Avenue, St. Paul.
