Shirley Ann Keefe

Funeral services for Shirley A. Keefe, 76, of Fairmont, Minnesota will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 28, 2004, at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Fairmont. Burial will be at Lakeside Cemetery in Fairmont. Mrs. Keefe died Friday, July 23, 2004 at Abbott-Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota after a brave fight with ovarian cancer. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.Tuesday, July 27, 2004 with a Parish Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. at Olson-Zaharia Funeral Home in Fairmont and one hour prior to the service at the church. Shirley Ann Mahoney, the daughter of Joseph and Teresa Hardy Mahoney, was born July l5, 1928 in Redwood Falls, Minnesota. She attended school and graduated as the valedictorian of Morton High School in l947. She attended Mankato State University prior to her marriage to James C. Keefe on October l7, l949. They were united in marriage at St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Redwood Falls, Minnesota. She made their home in Redwood Falls until moving to Fairmont, Minnesota in l954. Mrs. Keefe was employed by Borchard Insurance Agency in Fairmont from l974-l978. In December of l978 she joined the staff at the Martin County Courthouse Administrators' office. She was employed as a deputy court administrator for more than twenty years. Over her years of experience in the court system, she served the county in the areas of finance, criminal and juvenile justice and traffic court. She retired from the Martin County courthouse position on Dec. 31, l998. Her husband died July 5, 1992. Shirley was a member of St. John Vianney Catholic Church for over 50 years and served in many leadership capacities there. She is survived by her children Ann, Therese, Mark and Paul; Ann and spouse Don Beckel of The Colony, TX; Therese and spouse Mike Franklin of Apple Valley, MN; Mark and spouse Karen Keefe of Eden Prairie, MN; and Paul and spouse Michelle Keefe of Lakeville, MN. Mrs. Keefe is also survived by 11 grandchildren: Sarah Beckel, Rachael Payne and Martha Beckel of The Colony, TX; Emily, Laura and Joshua Franklin of Apple Valley, MN; Clinton and Kendall Keefe of Eden Prairie, MN; Mason, Taya and Myah Keefe of Lakeville, MN; two sisters-in-law Margaret Keefe of Fairmont, MN and Charlene Mahoney of Prescott, Arizona. She was preceded in death by her parents, her spouse, James Keefe and one brother, Robert Mahoney. In lieu of flowers, please make any donations to the Ovarian Cancer Society.