Obituaries

Jul 26, 2016

Sister Jean (Donna Marie) Maher, OSB

Sister Jean Maher, 73, died on July 26, 2016 at St. Scholastica Monastery in Duluth, MN.  Jean Marie was born in Chicago, IL on September 13, 1942.  She entered the Benedictine community on September 8, 1960 and celebrated her Golden Jubilee of Profession in July of 2012. Sister Jean’s ministries included...

Jul 22, 2016

Ann Marie Johnson The soul of Ann Marie Johnson (64) left her aching, failing body

on the afternoon of Friday, July 22. She passed away peacefully, in St. Luke's

I.C.U., with family by her side. Ann Marie was born on November 17, 1951 in

Duluth, Minnesota. She was a 1969 graduate of Duluth...

Jul 22, 2016

Thomas Wilfred “Bill” Werner, 92, of Duluth, died Friday, July 22, 2016 at St. Luke’s Hospital after a very brief illness with his family at his side.  He was born August 9, 1923 in Duluth to John and Annie (Reeves) Werner.  Bill attended Central High School, but had to quit school after his father’s death to help support his...

Jul 22, 2016

Carlisle (Cissy) Opsahl Sellwood, 79, of Duluth passed away in her home on July 22, 2016, surrounded by three generations of her family.

Cissy was born on June 12, 1937.  She attended The Madeira and Westover Schools in Virginia, and graduated from Garland Junior College in Boston, Massachusetts (’58). She married William Opsahl and taught nursery school in Connecticut before they returned to Duluth to raise their family. In...

Jul 21, 2016

Mark Thomas Shefchik, 66, died Thursday, July 21, 2016, at his home in Duluth.

Mark was born Aug. 16, 1949, in Duluth, the son of Thomas J. Shefchik Jr. and Dorothy (Carlson) Shefchik. He was a lifelong Duluth resident, graduating from Duluth East High School in 1967 and UMD in 1974. Mark was a member of the...

Jul 20, 2016

Robert Marvin Franz, 76, of Duluth, died on Wednesday July 20, 2016 in Ecumen Lakeshore.  Thankful to be “grafted in” to the root of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob by the blood of the “Passover Lamb”, Yeshua HaMeshiak and dwelling in the mansion prepared for him by his Savior.  He lived with diabetes for 36 years and greatly...

Jul 18, 2016

Mary Patricia “Trish” Nacey, 80, of Duluth, after many days and nights with her family at her side, passed gently into God’s hands on Monday, July 18, 2016 at home.  She was born in Duluth on March 16, 1936 to Lawrence and Florence (Tompkins) Hedstrom.   She was a graduate of Denfeld High School.  Trish had worked in real estate...

Jul 16, 2016

John Henry Herrera of Duluth died July 16, 2016 at the Solvay Hospice House.  He was born January 31, 1948 to Samuel and Rosabelle (Quintana) Herrera in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

John married Claudia Harteau on March 5, 1981.  He was a member of the Tewa Pueblo Tribe.  After he proudly served in the Navy he was...

Jul 15, 2016

Elizabeth A. “Bette” Damberg, 78 of Maple Grove, MN died July 15, 2016 after a brief illness surrounded by her family. Bette grew up in Duluth and lived for many years in the Woodland neighborhood.  She graduated from Cathedral High School.  She was a long time employee of the Diocese of Duluth and retired in 2011 after...

Jul 9, 2016

Beulah Ruth (Stoufer) Owsley died July 9, 2016 at the Solvay Hospice House in Duluth, MN. She was born to Clarence Lewis Stoufer and Sarah Francis (Parrack) Stoufer on October 31, 1935 in Macks Creek, Camden County, Missouri. She married Herbert B. "Bert" Owsley on April 22, 1955 in Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri who preceded her in death...

Jul 8, 2016

Jerry S. Zeleznikar, 93 of Duluth died Friday, July 8, 2016 at Essentia St. Mary’s.  Jerry was born December 23, 1922 in Ely to Jerry and Jennie Zeleznikar.  He graduated from Ely High School and attended DBU.  Jerry served in the Army in the Pacific Theater during WW II.  After the war, Jerry returned to Minnesota and worked at...

Jul 4, 2016

Concetta (Connie, Cuch) Infelise Schoen died Monday July 4th at Marywood, the Benedictine Health Center.  Comforting her were her daughter, sisters, husband and son-in-law.

Connie was born in Kinney Minnesota on June 13, 1929 to Angelo and Domenica (Serrano) Infelise. She grew up in Hibbing graduating from Hibbing High School in 1947 and went on to...

Jul 3, 2016

Donald John Alfonsi, 72, of Duluth, passed away on July 3, 2016, after an extended illness.

Donald was born Jan. 15, 1944, in Duluth to Xavier and Loretta (Cascanette) Alfonsi.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Francis and Ted, and his beloved grandmother.

Don is survived by his nephews, Craig...

Jun 30, 2016

Debra Suzanne Curtis, 53 of Duluth, gained her angel wings Thursday, June 30, 2016 with her family by her side at St. Luke’s Hospital after a short courageous battle with Cancer. Debbie was born January 20, 1963 in Duluth to Daniel and Suzanne Sobczak.  She graduated from Proctor High School and then she received an Associate degree in...

Jun 30, 2016

Mary Ann Lund, 90, of Virginia, died on June 30, peacefully surrounded by her family at the Benedictine Health Center in Duluth.

Mary was born in Genoa, MN to Charlotte and Emil Nalborski on September 17, 1925. She attended Virginia Roosevelt High School, graduating in 1944 and later earned her cosmetology degree at the Duluth Beauty School....

Jun 26, 2016

Dorothy Louella (Carlson) Shefchik, 94, of Duluth, passed away peacefully at her home overlooking Lake Superior on June 26, 2016. Dorothy was born in Duluth on January 18, 1922, to Sperling and Edythe Carlson. Dorothy was a warm, witty, smart, strong, graceful and beautiful woman who gave unselfishly of her time, love and energy to her family,...

Jun 23, 2016

Zevin Samie McCurley passed away on June 23 at the University of Minnesota Hospital with his mother by his side.  Zevin was born May 25, 1975 in Duluth MN.  He graduated from Denfeld High School, the Hubert H. Humphrey Job Corps and the Lake Superior College in Auto-Body Repair.  Zevin suffered from chronic liver disease since birth.  He had...

Jun 22, 2016

Thomas Alan Gonia, 71, of Duluth, passed away unexpectedly, Wednesday, June 22, 2016 in his home.

Alan was born in Schenectady, NY, on November 19, 1944 to Thomas and Freda (Cogburn) Gonia. Growing up as an Air Force “Brat” Alan lived all over the US.  He graduated from high school in Okinawa where he enjoyed...

Jun 21, 2016

Jean Louise Kauppi, 63, of Gilbert, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at Fairview University Hospital in Minneapolis MN, due to complications from heart surgery.

She was born May 19, 1953 to Walter A. and Lorraine H. (Johnson) Miskowski.  Jean graduated from Hermantown High School in 1971.  She then attended nursing school at...

Jun 21, 2016

Dorothy Louise Sumner, 84, a resident of The Villages FL, passed away Tuesday, June 21, 2016.

Dorothy was born to Marvin and Barbara Curnow, on December 26, 1931, in Duluth.  She graduated from Duluth Cathedral.

Family, knitting, and good food played a large role in Dorothy’s life.  As a young woman,...