Obituary: Florence (Cunningham) Kinney - Class of 1929

MADISON - Florence E. Kinney, age 92, died peacefully on Aug. 12, 2003, after patiently living with Alzheimer's disease for the past five years. She was born in Madison on July 16, 1911, to William and Mary Cunningham. She was married to William R. (Bill) Kinney on July 30, 1938, at St. Raphael's Cathedral, Madison. By her example, Florence taught her family and friends to be more caring people. She was a member of St. Bernard's Parish for 59 years, attended daily Mass, and was active in many activities: taking Eucharist to the homebound, working at the school hot lunch program, ladies bazaars, Halloween parties, the Over 50 Club, and card parties. She will be greatly missed by her family and many friends. She was always there for her friends who could no longer drive, taking them shopping and to their doctor appointments Over the years, Florence had many other interests: following her son's and grandchildren's sports, Braves games, Ho-Chunk, the theater, card playing, dancing, golf, bowling, garage sales, the Lawrence Welk Show, crocheting, cooking, and baking, especially birthday cakes. She was a great Mom to her three sons, David (Teri) and Fred (Marilyn), both of Madison, and Patrick (Mary) of Greendale. She was very devoted to her nine grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Her grandchildren are Steve (Anne) Kinney, Jill (Dave) Yanke, Tim (Bonnie) Kinney, Tom (Carla) Kinney, Sue (Jim) Ellestad, Sandi (John) Williams, Stacy Kinney, Cori (Steve) Bjorkland and Aric (Courtney) Kinney. Her great-grandchildren are Ben, Sam, Peter and Joey Yanke, Kyle and Kayla Kinney, Nathan Hocking, Cora and Elle Kinney, Shane and Josh Wilkinson, Brandon Ellestad, Cole Williams, Annika and Jack Bjorkland, and Hannah Kinney. She is also survived by her brother- and sister-in-law, Joe and Dorothy Kinney of San Antonio, Texas; and sisters-in-law, Hildegard Kinney of Madison, and Helen Kinney of Monona. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her sisters, Helen, Aleatha and Jesse; and her brothers, Eugene, Jim and Fred. Funeral services will be held at ST. BERNARD'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 2450 Atwood Ave., on Saturday, Aug. 16, 2003, at 10 a.m. Monsignor Michael Hippee will officiate. Friends may call at the church from 8:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday. Burial will be held at the Resurrection Cemetery. Memorials can be made to the Alzheimer's Association or St Bernard's Parish, Madison. Special thanks to Dr. Bill Rock and Dr. Jeff Wood for their compassionate care over the years. Thanks also to the staff members at Evora Lodge, Homestead Living and Oakwood Village for the fine care that Florence received. The loving and caring staff at Oakwood Knoll have been a special source of support for our Mom and the rest of the family. We are grateful for the many ways you all added to her quality of life during the past few years. She lived according to this prayer she had on her wall: "Dear God, Thank you for what I have. Please help me to do the best that I can, and accept whatever happens as your will." Her life has been one of support and service to her family and friends. Now we rejoice that she is resting in the loving arms of our Lord, and reunited with Bill in Heaven., Ryan Funeral Home 2418 N. Sherman Ave. (608) 249-8257

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on August 15, 2003

Florence Cunningham's class year is based on information in the 1929 Tychoberahn, where she is listed among the members of the June graduating class.