Jeanette “Jean” Frances Monnens, of Prior Lake, passed on December 23, 2016 at the age of 90. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 28, 2016 from 4:00 – 8:00 PM at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Prior Lake. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, December 29, 2016 at 11:00 AM with visitation one-hour prior at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Prior Lake. Father Tom Walker will preside, and Jean’s grandchildren will act as pallbearers. Jean will be laid to rest at St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery in Prior Lake. Memorials are preferred and will be distributed in Jean’s memory to her favorite charities by her family.
On Saturday May 22, 1926, at their home on the farm in Marystown, MN, Leander and Mary (Boegeman) Hennen welcomed their daughter Jeanette Frances Hennen. Jean was the second of their four children. Jean attended the Marystown country school through the 8 th grade. In her teen years, she worked for several families as live-in help tending their young children, including the Wilke family of Bloomington. Jean worked at the St. Paul Seminary for two years as a cook and server for the seminarians; she was a server at the Mudcura Sanitarium in Chaska, and enjoyed meeting a variety of people from around the world. Following her marriage, Jean was a fulltime wife and homemaker.
On September 28,1949, she was married to the love of her life, Verdon “Don” Monnens at St. Mary of the Purification Church in Marystown, MN. Jean and Don made their home in Prior Lake. They were blessed with five children, Gary, Leann, Mary, Mark and Laurie.
Along with her brother Lambert and his wife Rose, Don and Jean owned and operated the Monnens & Hennen Fairway Foods grocery store until 1963.
Jean’s many interests included her lovely flower gardens, quilting, cooking and baking, playing cards and dominoes, painting with acrylics, going on Sunday drives to visit relatives and friends, traveling with Don to 49 states, women’s retreats at The Cenacle and Franciscan Retreat House and hosting holiday meals, family weenie roasts and ballgames in the backyard, picnics, and any activity involving Lambert & Rose.
Jean was uniquely gifted in her ability to make people feel welcomed, comfortable, well fed, and truly entertained in her home. She and Don enjoyed the friendship of many people from Prior Lake and Arizona- lifelong friends, dear to her heart. Jean had a gift for remembering others on their birthdays, anniversaries, or those in need of some tender care. She enjoyed sending greeting cards, visiting on the phone with friends, and caring for those in need as a Eucharistic minister and prayer partner. It was common for her to make a home cooked meal or pan of brownies to lift up a friend in need.
Jean was a lifelong member of the Church of St. Michael. She participated in bible studies and the welcoming ministry. Eucharist to the homebound, Meals on Wheels, Thanksgiving and Christmas food drives, were among many of the ministries which gave her joy. For 32 years (1980-2013), she and Don were dedicated members of Cursillo; “Bringing Christ to our world, one friend at a time.” Jean was a woman of deep faith, humility, and fortitude – a true follower of Christ. After of long Advent of waiting, Jean’s deepest longing was granted, she went home to the Lord.
She will be deeply missed and remembered always by those who love her dearly, children, Gary (Kathy) Monnens of Prior Lake, Leann (Bruce) Kaufenberg of Lake Elmo, Mary (Gary) Hartmann of Prior Lake, Mark (Ann) Monnens of Prior Lake, Laurie (Mike) Gold of Little Falls; grandchildren JR, Andy, Lisa (Andy), Steven (Maddie Yeo), Tim (Jessica), David (Liz), Brian (Abbie), Amy (Jim), Rachel (John), Christopher, Kelly (Jeremy), Heather, Michael (Corina), Joe (Nichole), Alissa (Aaron); great- grandchildren, Ezra, Kacie, Reid, Mackenzie, Annabelle, Triston, Ivan, Sage, Charlotte, Savannah, Luca and Grayson; lifelong best friend and sister-in-law Rose Hennen, sisters-in-law Mary Hennen, Pat (Ray) Collins, brothers-in-law, Larry (Carol) Monnens, John Runda.
Jean is preceded in death by her husband, Verdon “Don” Monnens; parents, Leander and Mary Hennen; grandson, Mark Lawrence Monnens Jr.; brothers, Lambert Hennen, Willard (Arlene) Hennen and Merle Hennen; brother-in-law, Reverend Fr. Merle Monnens; sisters-in-law Marion Monnens and Audrey Runda.
Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation proudly serve the Monnens family. www.BallardSunderFuneral.com
