Donna Shern

Donna Marie (Cunningham) Shern

Donna Marie Shern passed away at age 84 at her home in Edina, MN, on October 21, 2015.

Mass of Christian Burial 11 a.m., Friday, October 30, 2015, at The Church of Christ the King, 5029 Zenith Ave. So., Minneapolis, with visitation one hour prior at the church. Private interment in Calvary Cemetery, Mankato, MN. Memorials are preferred to The Academy of the Holy Angels in Richfield.

She was born September 9, 1931, in Mankato, MN, to James and Julia (Murphy) Cunningham. Her early years were spent on the family farm near Twin Lakes, MN, later living in Conger, Mapleton and Mankato, MN. She graduated from Good Counsel Academy, Mankato, in 1949. After receiving a B.S. degree in Business Education from the University of Minnesota in 1954, she taught in Menomonie, WI, where she also met her future spouse, Robert Allen Shern. They were married on December 29, 1955, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Mankato, and lived in Albert Lea, MN, for several years. In 1958, they moved to Minneapolis, where she later taught at the Academy of Holy Angels, Richfield, retiring in 1987 after 17 years of modeling responsibility and commitment to excellence for her students. She received her M.S. in Curriculum from Mankato State College in 1975. She and her husband moved to St. Paul in 1979, where she was an active member of AAUW and in her retirement, participated daily in caring for 2 granddaughters attending Nativity of our Lord Catholic School, St. Paul.

After the death of her husband in 1997, she worked part time as a receptionist at Fairview Hospital. In 2011, she moved to Vernon Terrace, Edina, where she enriched her life with new friends and completed online doctoral certification in Educational Leadership. Throughout her life, she reveled in her all-Irish ancestry (culminating in a trip to Ireland in 1998); relied on her quick wit; treasured her family and friends; supported unwaveringly the Gophers, Vikings and Twins; remained vitally interested in current events; and drew strength from her deep faith.

Survivors include three sons; Daniel Shern (Linda), Timothy Shern (Kyle), and Todd Shern; six grandchildren; Kailey Buse; Carissa Shern; Diana, Jonathon, Steven and Mikayla Shern; three great-grandchildren; Molly, Alexa and Nathaniel; a sister, Sheila Cunningham (William Buethe); two nephews; Neal Buethe and Paul Buethe; dear cousins and true friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.