Marion P. Cunningham, 104, of Winona died January 5 at Sauer Health Care. She was born in Winona, the oldest of eight children, to Leo R. and Amelia (Literski) Smith.

Marion was married to Arthur J. Cunningham for 64 years and they have six children.

Marion was one of the longest and active members of the Catholic Daughters of America and the oldest member of St. Mary's Catholic Church. She was an avid bridge player, hiked the Winona bluffs, loved to go on the Mississippi River and travel the world.

Civic mindedness was characteristic of Marion. Among her many activities she was a member of the Democratic Farm Labor Party caucus and served in the hospital axillary as a Gift Shop volunteer. Marion was also active with the American Red Cross and Birthright. She was a fierce civil rights advocate.

Marion is survived by six children: Phyllis, New York City; John (Beverly), Winona; Sheila, Winona; Peggy Elms, Berkeley, California; Louise, La Grange, Illinois; and Kathleen (Thomas) Hyland, Eagan, Minnesota. She is also survived by twelve grandchildren, seventeen great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. Her surviving sibling is Leland Smith, Winona. Marion was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and six siblings: Leo “Buster”, Edward, Charles, W. Wayne, Nina, and Joan.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 AM Saturday, with the Fr. Jim Berning officiating. Visitation will be prior to the Mass in St. Mary's Commons at 9:30 AM.

There will be recitation of the Rosary by the Winona Catholic Daughters at 9:30 AM in the Church. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to St. Mary's Church, Winona Catholic Worker, or to donor's choice.

Services entrusted to Fawcett Junker Funeral Home, Winona, MN and Fountain City, WI. Words of sympathy or remembrance may be left at www.fawcett-junkerfuneralhome.com

Pipestone Court St. John 1371 is asking for prayers for their recording secretary, Betty Cramer and her husband, Bob who just had a house fire and lost everything.

The complete story on this can be found in the Pipestone County Star newspaper.
 

Celebration of Life Mass on January 18th, 2018 at St. Henry's Catholic Church, Perham, Minnesota. The celebrant was Father Matthew Kuhn. St. Henry's Area School children participated as Mass servers, readers, musicians, singers and gift bearers.

In recognition of the sanctity of life from before birth to death, the different stages in life were recognized and presented a red rose, a symbol of life. The life stages represented were expecting mothers (Donn Guck), newborn children (Michael Mettler family), youth (Madeline Abbott), high school age group (Morgan Hanson), senior citizen (Mary Bennett) and special challenges (Karen Beyer). Presenting the red roses were Mary Grace Fudge, Isabella Schultz, Gia Van Watermulen, Dominick Hammers, EmmaLee & Brenna Guck, Nora, Charlie and Levi Murdock. Also a red rose was placed before the Holy Family Statue by Morgan Pazdernik as a reminder of our belief in and commitment to the right to life of all people.

After the Celebration of Life Mass, a reception for those attending was sponsored by the Catholic Daughters.

Mary Lou of Court St. Justin #2020 and her husband Richard have been married for 61 years and have 4 children and one granddaughter. They moved to the Twin Valley area in 1963 and farmed for just over 40 years.

Life was busy on the farm in the mid 70’s and with 4 kids busy with school and sports, Mary Lou found Wednesdays were her day to go to town. She would deliver the Meals on Wheels for the Senior Meal program, run errands and then on to a bowling league in the afternoon. In the early years she delivered 6 – 10 meals on her Wednesday delivery route. Over time that grew to be as high as 22 or 24. But now she says it ranges more like 12 – 18 deliveries.

Mary Lou loves the visiting and interacting with the seniors she delivers meals to. She says for some, she is the only person they see during the day. As a volunteer she is responsible to connect with the meal recipients. If they don’t come to the door or answer when she visits, she reports that back to the Senior Meal site. The program then does a follow up, to make sure there are no problems.

Mary Lou loves to volunteer. Whether at the Senior Meal program, church or the nursing home, she says “It feels good to help people”. She is also proud to say she has passed this down to her children, who also do volunteering.

The Apple Pie Award was recently given to Mary Lou from Lutheran Social Services, to recognize her service to the Senior Meal Program. As Catholic Daughters we are very proud of her service in her community as well as her service with Court St. Justin #2020. Mary Lou's volunteer service is a great example of our Circle of Love Quality of Life and Family areas. Congratulations Mary Lou

Court St. Rita #409, observed Catholic Daughters Sunday at the 10 am Mass, on October 15, 2017, at St. Henry's Catholic Church, Perham, Minnesota. The Holy sacrifice of the Mass was celebrated by Father Matthew Kuhn, assisted by Deacon Randy Altstadt. Catholic Daughters participated in the Mass as sacristan, lectors, choir members, and Eucharistic ministers. At the weekend Masses, at St. Henry's and Holy Cross Catholic Church, Butler, Minnesota, (our sister parish) Regent, Dianne Rohde-Szarke, spoke to all the ladies of the Parishes inviting them to join Catholic Daughters. After the 10 am Mass, a continental breakfast was served by the Catholic Daughters.

Pictured right to left ,front row: Regent, Dianne Rohde-Szarke; Second Vice Regent, Helene Johnson; Second row, Financial Secretary, Cathy Doll; Treasurer, Lorie Curtis; Recording Secretary, Lynn Schwanke; back row: Father Matthew Kuhn pastor at St. Henry's and past National Chaplin and Deacon Randy Altstadt.

Respectfully submitted Publicity chair; Fuzz Hammers

The Catholic Daughters of Court St.Rita #409, Perham,   Minnesota honored our Blessed Mother Mary on May 6th, 2017, by processing into Church with the image of Mary. The procession consisted of Father Matthew Kuhn, Deacon Randy Altstadt, the Knights of Columbus, members of the Catholic Daughters and other parishioners. The Mass was celebrated for the intention of all deceased Catholic Daughters.

CDA Sunday