Edana Fenske

(From Buchanan Funeral Home)

Fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church, Edana Elizabeth Fenske faithfully and peacefully returned to the Lord on November 6, 2026. Edana was born March 10, 1930 to Frank Fay and Edana (Larkin) Murphy. She spent her life in Pierce City, graduating from Pierce City High School in 1947 and attending Marymount College in Saline, KS.

Edana’s mother died when she was a week old and her grandmother Murphy closed up her home and came to live with them. Upon her grandmother’s death in 1939 Edana lived part time with her aunt and uncle, Helen and Pete Frey, and a cousin Mary Ann Garvey who would spend part of the year in Pierce City taking care of the Murphy household. Her dad married Juanita Bolton Wood in 1940. Edana always felt she owed these four women a great deal for all the love and care they gave her through the years.

On April 2, 1951 she married Louis F. Fenske in St. Mary’s Church, and to this union one son and seven daughters were born.

She was an active member of St. Mary’s, singing in the choir and participating in PCCW activities.

Before her marriage she worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. in the Pierce City office. She was a 4-H leader for over 20 years and did volunteer work at St. Mary’s School which turned into a full time job in 1980. She later worked for the Leader Journal for four years and took care of the rural fire department dues for 15 years. She was a volunteer for Loaves and Fishes in Monett and Ronald McDonald House in Joplin, and for years was Democratic poll judge either in Pierce City or Mt. Olivet precinct.

Edana is survived by one son, Edward (Donna) Fenske of Wentworth, seven daughters Kathy (Gary) Eck, Sarcoxie; Peggy (Donald) Miller, Export, PA; Carol (Harold) Gripka, Pierce City; Janet (Jon) Hirsch, Springfield; Joyce Hale, Carthage; Mary (Greg) Parrigon, Neosho; and Angela (John) Supplee of Pierce City; twenty-five grandchildren, 54 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Louis, her parents Frank and Edana Murphy, stepmother, Juanita; stepbrother Dick Wood and his wife Jean, her son-in-law Joe Hale, granddaughter Rebecca Miller and great grandchildren Isaac and Bernadette Streeter.

The Rosary, followed by visitation, will be held at St. Mary’s Church in Pierce City on November 9th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at St. Mary’s Church on November 10th at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Mary’s School, Ronald McDonald House of Joplin or to the Macular Degeneration Foundation in care of the Buchanan funeral home. Arrangements are under the direction of Buchanan Funeral Home in Monett.