Elizabeth Majerus, 91

Elizabeth Jane (Heaney) Majerus was lovingly reunited on Nov. 23 with Quentin (Jim) Majerus, her husband of 65 years.

Elizabeth was born on Feb. 12, 1921, in Goodhue, Minn., to William and Johanna (Ryan) Heaney. She was the sixth of seven children and was part of an extended family of Irish relatives. Johanna passed away on Elizabeth's first birthday, shortly after the birth of her sister Dody. William's sister, Annie, and Miss Mary Kelly helped him raise Elizabeth and her siblings. This arrangement was a great blessing, rather than a family tragedy.

Elizabeth was baptized, confirmed, and brought up in the Catholic faith at Holy Trinity in Goodhue and St. Columbkill in Belle Creek. One of the greatest influences in her life was her father's religious faith and political belief in one's responsibility to the least of our brothers and sisters.

Elizabeth graduated from Goodhue Public High School in 1938. It was there that she met her future husband and lifelong companion, Jim. They were married on Aug. 18, 1942, and left on their honeymoon in a borrowed Packard. Upon their return, Jim left for the Army Air Force and Elizabeth, Dody, and Mary Ann managed the Heaney Meat Market while the Heaney boys were overseas.

After the war, Elizabeth and Jim moved to Bellechester and, for the next 15 years, shared a home with his mother, Agnes. Elizabeth would often remark that no one could ask for a better mother-in law. They would eventually buy the “town” farm and raise nine children in the old stucco house. During those years, Elizabeth and Jim welcomed their sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews and many others into their home.

In 1967, Elizabeth enrolled in bookkeeping classes and took over managing the office at the Bellechester Garage and Majerus Oil Company. She was also an active volunteer on the parish board, the cemetery board, and the altar society at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Bellechester. Elizabeth enjoyed many years playing cards with the Bellechester Legion women.

Elizabeth is survived by her children, Carol (Jerome) Vacek, James (Connie Ludwig), Douglas, Phillip (Ingrid Ballman), Richard (Susan), Ellen (John) Huneke, Kenneth, Brian (Tony Fieber), and Charlotte (Juergen) von Knobelsdorff. She was a loving grandmother to 18 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren.

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; her parents; and siblings, Dennis, Margaret, Mary (Joseph) O'Reilly, Gerald (Eleanor), Richard (Mary Ann) and Dody (George) Gorman.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Bellechester with Father Bruce Peterson presiding. The family will be present for 1 hour prior to the service. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Catholic Church Cemetery. On Monday, Nov. 26, at 4 p.m., there will be a rosary, followed by a visitation and a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. at the church. Memorials are preferred to the donor's choice.

Arrangements were made with Mahn Family Funeral Home - Larson Chapel in Zumbrota, www.mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com.

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