Date of Birth:
Thursday, July 15, 1926
Date of Death:
Monday, January 6, 2025
Age:
98 years old

Jeanette “Jeanie” Monahan

Jeanette M. “Jeanie” Monahan – Rochester

In loving memory of Jeanette Mary (Hanzel) Monahan, 98, of Rochester, MN, who passed away with her husband of 74 years “Jerry” by her side on Monday, January 6, 2025, at The Waters on Mayowood Drive.

Jeanette was born July 15, 1926 in Faribault, MN to Francis and Charlotte (Bolton) Hanzel. She graduated from Faribault High School in 1944, the Mankato Teachers College in 1946 and then taught grade school in Zumbrota, MN. On August 12, 1950, she married Jerome M. Monahan at Sacred Heart Church in Faribault. The couple moved to St. Paul, MN, where she taught at St Joseph’s School in W. St. Paul before moving to Rochester in 1956.

Jeanette loved family, a good book, flower gardening, playing bridge and baking pies (famously apple & pumpkin). She opened the Wise Owl Shop (a secondhand consignment store) on North Broadway in the 1970s.  She was a founding member of the Friends of Mayowood Residence & Historic Sites; in 2010 they received the Stewardship Award from the Rochester Heritage Preservation Committee for the preservation of Mayowood and other historic sites in Rochester, building a legacy that will benefit generations to come.

She is survived by her husband Jerome; sons, Michael (Marie Rosengren) of Longmont, CO, Thomas (Amy Hawks) of Stillwater, MN, Timothy (Lesleigh) of Lakewood, CO, and Daniel (Ann) of Woodland, MN; daughter Patricia (Thomas) McMullen of Buffalo, MN; thirteen grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. She famously greeted her grandchildren with “So, what have you done for fun lately?”.  She was preceded in death by her parents, five sisters and two brothers.

The Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 31, 2025, at St. Pius X Catholic Church. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.

Memorials are preferred to St. Pius X Catholic Church in Rochester, MN.