Mary Ellen “Bunny” Walsh, of Prior Lake, passed away on July 15, 2015 at the age of 85. Visitation is Sunday, July 19, 2015 from 4:00 – 7:00 PM at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation, Prior Lake. Mass of Christian Burial is Monday, July 20, 2015 at 11:00 AM with visitation one hour prior at the Church of St. Michael, Prior Lake. Deacon Dick Roy will preside. Pall Bearers will be Bunny’s grandchildren. Bunny will be laid to rest at St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery. Memorials are preferred and will be distributed by Bunny’s family in her honor.
It was a joyous day for Raymond and Loretta (Mamer) Robel on February 27, 1930 when they celebrated the birth of their precious baby girl. Mary Ellen was their only child, and loved growing up in New Prague. She received the nick name Bunny from her Grandpa that said she was cute as a Bunny and it stayed with her for her life. She especially enjoyed spending time with her grandparents at their hardware store.
When Bunny was a girl, her father traveled for his work in masonry. Loretta and Bunny were able to travel with him and got to visit many new places along the way. Bunny even got to see Mount Rushmore in its early stages of construction. They traveled to a lot of the western states, but always came back home to New Prague when the job was done. Bunny’s family also enjoyed spending their summers at their cottage on Prior Lake.
Bunny learned a lot traveling with her parents, but she also valued formal education. After graduating from New Prague High School, she attended the College of St. Catherine and later graduated from George Washington University. Bunny also earned her Certification in Early Childhood Education from the University of Minnesota. Children were always Bunny’s passion in life, and she was able to turn this passion into a rewarding career.
As a young woman, Bunny enjoyed spending time with friends and attending dances at the Spring Lake Ball Room. It was at a dance that she met the love of her life, Richard “Dick” Walsh. Dick and Bunny had an extended courtship and exchanged wedding vows in Minneapolis on May 7, 1955. As newlyweds, Dick and Bunny settled in Minneapolis and lived above McDivitt-Hauge Funeral Home while Dick pursued a career in Mortuary Science.
While living in Minneapolis, Bunny got her first job was as a social worker for Catholic Welfare where she helped troubled teens. After a few years, Dick and Bunny moved to South Minneapolis to start their family. They were blessed with three sons, Kevin, Jim and Chris. In 1966, they relocated to Prior Lake. Bunny’s dad designed a house and Dick built it for their family. Bunny loved living on the lake and spending time at home with her family.
Once her boys were grown, Bunny went back to work pursuing her passion for educating children. She was the director and co-founder of the Scott County Day Activity Center which was the first of its kind in the area. Bunny also served as the director for the nursery school Bronco Kiddy Corral at Archbishop Brady High School for 16 years. Finally, Bunny worked at Rocking Horse Ranch in Prior Lake until retiring from a long and rewarding career in Early Childhood Education.
In retirement, Bunny enjoyed spending time on the lake and keeping beautiful flower gardens. Bunny collected china and antiques, and she took pride in her home. She also spent as much time as she could with her grandkids, and they all loved making ceramics with her. Dick and Bunny were members of St. Michael’s Church and active in the Hiawatha Lions Club. They even traveled to many of the club’s district meetings. They also made many trips to Bonita Springs, Florida with family. Dick and Bunny loved traveling together and exploring new places. One of their most memorable trips was to Ireland.
In 2000 Bunny developed a number of health issues. This slowed her down, but she never let it get her spirits down. She was always kind and appreciative of the care she received. Bunny passed away on July 15, 2015 at a Community Assisted Living House in Farmington. She was a generous woman with a kind heart. She will be remembered always as a loving wife, mother and grandma.
Bunny is survived by her husband, Dick Walsh; sons, Kevin Walsh (Lisa), James (Lynette) Walsh and Christopher (Paige) Walsh; grandchildren, Dan (Shannon) Walsh, Tom (Melissa) Walsh, Britney (Josh) Harris, Stephen Walsh, Shannon Walsh and William (Willy) Walsh; two great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Eileen (Stan) Effertz; brothers-in-law, Jack (Mary Ann) Walsh, Bob Walsh and Tom (LaVonne) Walsh; other loving relatives and many dear friends. There to greet Bunny in Heaven are her parents and grandson, Tyler Walsh.
The Walsh family is served with honor, care and compassion by Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation.
