Esther Sowada

Esther Sowada, age 88 of Little Falls, MN and formerly of Fort Ripley, MN died, Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls, MN. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, March 30, 2009 at 10:30 A.M. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Little Falls with the Rev. Nick Landsberger officiating. Interment will be in St. Mathias Cemetery in St. Mathias, MN. Visitation is from 4:00-8:00 P.M. Sunday and Monday from 8:00-10:00 A.M. at the Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service (southest chapel) in Little Falls. Christian Mothers Rosary will be said at 4:30 P.M. Sunday afternoon at the funeral chapel followed by Parish Prayers at 7:00 P.M. Esther Josephine Sowada was born August 3, 1920 in Little Falls, Morrison County, MN to the late Frank P. and Mary Ann (Lesinski) Kurowski. She attended school in District 38 through the eighth grade. Esther was united in marriage to Lucien Sowada on November 4, 1940 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Little Falls. Esther and Lucien farmed for 62 years in Fort Ripley, MN. She also worked as a cook at the Wildwood Inn and in housekeeping for 19 years at the St. Francis Convent in Little Falls. Following her husband, Lucien's death on June 14, 2002, Esther moved to the Park Place Apartments in Little Falls. On June 14, 2005, she became a resident of Harmony House in Little Falls residing there until her death. Esther was a member of St. Mathias Catholic Church in Fort Ripley for 62 years, present member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Little Falls, Christian Mothers and card club. She enjoyed gardening, cooking, baking, quilting, the outdoors, walking, dancing to Old Tyme Music and spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Joyce (George) Swanson of Little Falls, MN, Shirley (Keith) Heidecker of Brainerd, MN, Audrey (Gerald) Majerus of Fort Ripley, MN, Rebecca (Ron) Schmidt of Burtrum, MN; brothers, Alex Kurowski and John (Pat) Kurowski both of Sartell, MN; sisters-in-law, Phyllis Kurowski of Little Falls, MN and Helen Sowada of St. Paul, MN; 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lucien; parents; granddaughter, Cindy Heidecker; brothers, Louis & Clarence Kurowski; sister, Margaret Joseph; sister-in-law, Mary Kurowski and brother-in-law, Ervin Joseph.