Mary Ellen Howard

Mary Ellen Howard, 92 of La Crosse passed away Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at the Onalaska Care Center. She was born March 1, 1920 in Reedsburg, WI to Frank and Mary (Gilles) Howard. The family moved to La Crosse in 1927 where she attended St. Marys Grade School and graduated as Valedictorian of her 1938 graduating class at Aquinas High School. She then attended St. Francis School of Nursing from 1938 until 1940.

Mary Ellen had worked at the Skemp Clinic in La Crosse as a nurse and later as clinic manager from 1940 until her retirement in 1987. She was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Parish where she served as a lay Eucharistic Minister for many years and also a member of the Blessed Sacrament Womens Club. Mary Ellen had served several terms as president of the Catholic Daughters of America and volunteered at the Franciscan-Skemp Medical Center.

Survivors include her brother, John (Judy Pedersen) Howard of St. Peter, MN; her sister, Sr. Katherine Howard, OSB of St. Joseph, MN; her brother-in-law, Joseph J. Sweeney of La Crosse; her sister-in-law, Sue A. Howard of Holmen; nieces, Jean (Mark) Dellenbach of Onalaska, Sue (Bernie) Bielke of Cottage Grove, MN, Patricia (Gene) Schams of Rochester, MN and Theresa Mulholland of Onalaska; four grand nephews, six grand nieces, two great-grand nephews and two great-grand nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister Irene Sweeney and a brother, Michael Howard.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, November 27th at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church with Rev. David Olson officiating. Burial will follow in Catholic Cemetery. Friends and family may call at the church on Tuesday from 9:30 A.M. until the time of services. A rosary will be recited at 9:45 A.M. Memorials are suggested to Blessed Sacrament Catholic Parish.