Lorena Essner

Lorena Mary Essner, 89, of Kelso, Mo., died May 26, 2012, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Sept. 28, 1922, in Illmo, to Anton Joseph and Anna Theresa Ostendorf Diebold. She married Vincent Stephen Essner on May 4, 1946, in Kelso.

She was a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church, St. Ann's Ladies Sodality and St. Ann's Quilter's club.

She is survived by her husband; four sons, Norman (Dorothy) Essner, Robert (Karla) Essner, Jerome (Beverly) Essner and Kevin (Laurie) Essner, all of Kelso; three daughters, Anna Rose (Francis) Bles, Marilyn (Randal) Friend and Shirley (Greg) Eftink, all of Kelso; three sisters, Clara (Simon) Essner and Helen Menz of Kelso, Dorothy Ressel of Cape Girardeau; 23 grandchildren, Mike and Dan Bles, Kristie (Jason) Slinkard, Lori (David) Blechle, Randy (Amy) Essner, Anton Essner, Leeanna (Chad) Seiler, Aaron and Chad Friend, Todd (Stephanie) Friend, Nathan (Alison) Essner, Bonnie (Jim Maurer) Essner, Lee Essner, Scott (Sarah) Essner, Neal (Melissa) Essner, Kyle Essner, Amy (Ryan) Mattes, Renee (Matthew) Scroggins, Brian (Valarie) Hulshof, Michelle (Ryan) Garnett, John, Brittany and Madeline Essner; 10 great-grandchildren (and expecting two more), Zachary and Kendyl Slinkard, Peyton Friend, Audrey Essner, Cameron Essner, Nicole, Dominic, Kelley and Owen Mattes, Dylan Essner.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Paul Diebold; and a son-in-law, Gordon Hulshof.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Kelso. Parish rosary will be at 7 p.m. with Knights of Columbus service following.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the church, with the Rev. Oliver Clavin as celebrant.

Burial will be in St. Augustine Catholic Cemetery in Kelso.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Notre Dame Foundation or St. Augustine School Foundation.

Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel of Scott City is in charge of arrangements. www.amick-burnettfuneralchapels.com.