The Memorial Mass for Elaine Vessey will be at 10:30AM, Monday, September 12, 2011 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church with the Rev. Mark McNea officiating.  Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.

Elaine Josephine Vessey passed away peacefully Tuesday, September 6, 2011.   She was born March 4, 1921, in Elma, Iowa. She was the last of eight children born to parents, Margaret and William Kurtenbach. Elaine attended business college, in 1939.  She met Clark J. Vessey in 1940 and they married in 1943. Clark was stationed in Savannah, Georgia.  Elaine accompanied him there and their only son, Ron, was born there in 1945. With the end of WWII, Elaine and Clark returned to Minnesota. Elaine worked through the years at the Brown Derby, the Alibi Inn, which she owned for a few years, the Town House, Dooley's and Mc Murphys's.  Her values of hard work and honesty helped her gain the respect and admiration of her employers and she continued to work at her last position one day a week until the age of 85.  Elaine's natural effervescence and good humor endeared her to many her customers.

Elaine and Clark loved their pontoon boat that they kept on the Zumbro River for years. Outings with family and friends added to their enjoyment. Elaine helped Clark in his auction business for years until his retirement in 1995. They enjoyed many trips to Seattle, Kansas, and Chicago to visit her sisters, as well as to Hawaii in 1980 and two cruises to the Caribbean with friends. Clark passed away in 2001.

Survivors include her son, Ronald (Judy) of Edina, MN; and grandchildren, Jonathan (fiancée Cynthia Foht) of New York, NY; Joshua (Kate) of San Francisco, CA; Rachel (fiancé Rob Gibson) of Bethesda, MD; and Alex (special friend Heather) of Minneapolis; and great-grand daughter, Olivia Susan.

Elaine's grandchildren fondly remember their days in Rochester swimming at the Holiday Inn South, feeding the geese at Silver Lake and having treats from the deep freeze with Grandma and Grandpa. While grown up and scattered to both coasts, Elaine's grandchildren appreciated her phone calls and sent her photos of their endeavors via an electronic picture frame so Grandma could keep track of them.

Elaine was also "mother" to her two cats, Polly and Maggie. They provided her with companionship and warm snuggles.

Many thanks to Elaine's neighbors, Bryan and Corinne, Renee and Virginia for their kind attention to her over the years.

Elaine enjoyed an active, full life and celebrated her 90 ^th birthday with a big party in March.

Friends may call from 3:00PM – 6:00PM on Sunday, September 11, 2011, in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home and 1 hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.

Memorials are suggested to the Lourdes High School Building Fund.