Eileen “Tena” Joan Churchward
Thursday, October 6, 1932
Date of Death:
Sunday, June 13, 2021
Age:
88 years old
Thursday, October 6, 1932
Date of Death:
Sunday, June 13, 2021
Age:
88 years old
Thursday, October 6, 1932
Date of Death:
Sunday, June 13, 2021
Age:
88 years old
Eileen “Tena” Joan Churchward
Eileen “Tena” Joan Churchward, 88, of Fountain, MN passed away peacefully on June 13, 2021, at Methodist Hospital.
Tena was born October 6, 1932, at her parents’ home in Rochester, MN to Arthur and Lelia (Nangle) Weber. Being the youngest of eight children she admitted that she no doubt received special attention that contributed to her describing herself as “stubborn and bull-headed”. During her pre-teen years she joined her lifeguard brother Dick, at Soldiers Field pool. Working for her pool time by picking up the angle worms in and around the pool after a nighttime rain. This led to her spending as much time as possible swimming and diving. She continued aquatics at Rochester Jr and Sr High School plus other competitions such as Minneapolis Aquatennial and an attempt to swim across Lake Pepin in Lake City. Tena graduated from Rochester High School in 1951.
Tena married Frank, her man in an Army uniform, at her parents’ home in Rochester, MN. They had been married for 66 years. After raising her family, Tena returned to work in 1974 for the Kahler Hotel’s Pinnacle Restaurant as the lunchtime “Salad Lady”. In 1978 Tena started with Mayo Clinic as a Seamstress in the sewing room. She retired in 1993. Tena loved to watch her family grow, camp, sew and knit. She donated over 3000 hours knitting countless newborn hats, mittens, booties, and blankets to Methodist Hospital Nursery.
She is survived by husband Frank, children Dora, Scott (Dawn), Brad (Nancette), Kim (Ted) Smith, 12 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, 4 brothers and 3 sisters.
The funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, June 19, 2021, in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Rochester.
A special thanks to all at Mayo Hospice for their care and kindness.
Condolences
The family of Eileen “Tena” Joan Churchward has received the following condolences.
My deepest sympathy to the Churchward family. I will always have a special place for Frank and Tina as well as the rest of the family as they helped me get through a difficult time with alcohol. If I ever needed any encouragement or just a sounding board I could call and they would be there for me. Once again my deepest sympathy for your loss. Take care and god bless
Peewee Nelson
My condolences to Tena's family. I will always remember her kidding me about graduating before me because she was just ahead of me in line. She was a good friend.
I'm so sorry to learn of the Churchward family's loss. Mrs. Churchward was such a supportive, kind mother and always showed true compassion when I spent time at the Churchward residence during high school years and when I'd return to Rochester and connect with Scott during the years after we graduated. Heaven had a mother beautiful angel named "Tena".