Edith T. “Edie” McKenna, 87, of South Haven and formerly of Redwood Falls, died Friday, December 30, 2011 at the home of her daughter, Colleen, in South Haven. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 3, 2012 from St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Redwood Falls with burial to follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held Monday, January 2, 2012, from 5 until 7 p.m., with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m., all at Nelson-Martin Funeral Home in Redwood Falls. Visitation will continue at the church on Tuesday for one hour prior to services.
Arrangements are with Nelson-Martin Funeral Service of Redwood Falls. E-mail condolences may be sent via www.nelsonmartinfuneralservice.com.
Edith Thechla McKenna, the daughter of John and Anne Herriges, was born May 20, 1924 in Madison, Minnesota. Edie grew up in Hopkins where she received her formal education at St. Margaret’s parochial school. She graduated from St. Margaret’s Academy in 1942; she continued to live in Hopkins following high school, while she worked at two banks in Minneapolis and at GMAC as a bookkeeper.
On June 12, 1948, Edie married Dr. John F. “Jack” McKenna at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Hopkins. They lived in St. Louis, Missouri, where Jack attended Dental School until 1952 when they moved to Redwood Falls. The couple raised their family in Redwood Falls where Edie was a stay-at-home mom and a housewife. Jack died in 1996 and in 1997, Edie relocated to Burnsville. In 2009 she moved to her daughter Colleen’s home in South Haven.
Edie was a member of St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Kimball. While living in Redwood Falls, Edie was a member of St. Catherine’s Catholic Church where she served on the Altar Society, and with other organizations such as the funeral ministry. She also served as a Eucharistic minister. In the community, Edie helped with the United Way campaigns and was involved with the Catholic school until its closure. With Jack, she was involved in charitable organizations where they provided dentistry to the less fortunate including NIP (Neighborhood Improvement Project) in Minneapolis and the Flying Dentists, who provided support to missions in Oaxaca. She was an accomplished artist who enjoyed painting, sewing and other fine arts.
Edie is survived by her children Colleen (Paul) DeGree of South Haven, Mike (Marcia) McKenna of St. Cloud, Kevin (Vicky) McKenna of Valley Center, California, Kathie McKenna of Bloomington, and Patty (Josh) Brick of St. Paul; 11 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren; Also surviving are her sister Grace Lundeen and brother Roland “Rollie” Herriges both of Robbinsdale. She was preceded in death by her husband John “Jack” and her son Dan in 1981; as well as siblings Roman “Bud” Herriges, Elaine Ploog, Sr. Mel Herriges, Ione (Schlund) Michaud, and Evie (Brandes) Wolf.
Blessed be her memory.
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