Marcella Lucia McEniry

MONONA-Marcella (Kraemer) was born at home in Bakerville, Wisconsin on December 23, 1916 above a saloon or dancing hall owned by her father. She came from a family of 10 children (8 siblings and 2 half-siblings). She was the second of eight children from the second marriage growing up in Marshfield. In her early life, she lived through the Great Depression. After graduating from high school, she ventured to Madison where she worked as a phone operator for Wisconsin Bell. There she met her husband of forty plus years, Matthew McEniry. They had three children, Chuck, Mary and Patty. They purchased their first home in Monona in 1955. In addition to tending to her growing family, Marcella was very active in her community. She was involved in her church activities (daily mass, bake sales, bazaars, singing in church choir for funerals, sewing baptismal gowns to mention a few). For 15 years she was a volunteer at the Monona Community Center, leaving when she was well into her 90’s. In her first years living in Madison, Marcella belonged to a bike group. They made many trips as far as Milwaukee! Through the years her biking came to an end, and she ventured into other physical forms of exercise such as daily walks. Marcella’s large family of siblings were important to her and she and her husband often took their young children to visit the relatives of northern Wisconsin, La Crosse, Minneapolis-Saint Paul and Milwaukee and stayed in touch with her sister and children in Nevada and California. This large extended family created so many happy memories of summer picnics, family reunions, Thanksgiving and Christmas visits, phone calls, correspondence and gossip. Marcella’s siblings brought with them their pragmatic view of life, a strong work ethic, a sense of honesty, integrity and humor, a love of music and a deep religious faith. They shared with Marcella’s children their life on the farm and in the small towns and urban settings of the Midwest, along with the wide-open spaces and big cities of the West. All of Marcella’s children and her siblings’ children benefited so very much from a childhood full of cousins, aunts and uncles. Marcella’s circle of friends and neighbors was also very important to her. She remained friends for many years and will always say she was very lucky to have such close friends! Marcella enjoyed being part of a bridge group and bowling team with these friends. She enjoyed and admired the friends she met at church. She felt happy visiting St. Mary’s Adult Day Health Center, always talked about how wonderful the staff were, and made many friends there. All of these friendships and connections provided her with so much meaning and just the kind of social support that she needed in her later years. Marcella enjoyed travelling throughout her life. She often talked about the train trip she took with her aunt to California prior to getting married having fond memories and great stories to share! She was fortunate to travel with her husband experiencing all fifty states! Her family and friends were always impressed with her talents. She was a wonderful homemaker, super cook and amazing baker! Saturdays were spent making homemade pies, cookies and pastries such as cinnamon rolls. She also was an expert seamstress making not only her own clothing but her daughters, and always found time to make Barbie doll clothes! In addition, she enjoyed doing ceramics, crossword puzzles and playing scrabble. Marcella was blessed with three grandchildren, Tracy, Andy and Eric. She enjoyed being a part of their lives making many trips to Ft Wayne, Indiana to celebrate birthdays, holidays, graduations and other events that they were a part of growing up. In fact, she made the trip at age 91 to see her youngest grandson graduate from high school. Marcella left this world and entered another one of peace and joy on Monday, February 17, 2020. She looked very beautiful as she started her new journey. Looking back on it all, even she would have to admit, that although it was not always easy, she was very blessed to have reached the age of 103 years! Marcella is survived by her children, Charles McEniry, Mary McEniry and Patricia (James) Krafcheck; grandchildren, Tracy, Andy and Eric Krafcheck; and four siblings. She was preceded in death by her husband, Matthew; parents; and five siblings. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5101 Schofield St., Monona, at 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 21, 2020. Burial will be held at Resurrection Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday. Memorials may be made to Immaculate Heart of Mary Endowment Fund for Education, Agrace HospiceCare, St. Mary's Adult Day Health Center or Alzheimer's & Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608) 221-5420