Mava Barchenger

Mava R. Barchenger, age 100 of Sauk Centre, died Thursday, February 4, 2016 at CentraCare Health Nursing Home in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

A memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 20 in the Christian Life Center at First Lutheran Church with a gathering of family and friends beginning at 11 a.m. Lunch and fellowship will follow the memorial service. A private family inurnment service was in Greenwood Cemetery in Sauk Centre.

Mava Ruby Shanahan was born May 10, 1915 in Scott, Saskatchewan, Canada to William and Etta (Wehrhahn) Shanahan. She moved to the United States at an early age. She graduated from Sauk Centre High School, attended Normal Teacher's Training and St. Cloud State University and taught in rural schools. She graduated from St. Mary's School of Vocational Nursing in Rochester, Minnesota and was a nurse for 30 years. She was a member of First Lutheran Church and the Sauk Centre Seniors.

Mava had many interests. Her love of music brought her great joy, as did her church, and her garden. Mava loved to visit her daughter, Bonnie, and son-in-law, Dennis, in the many places they lived. Mava had a curiosity for life and the most important things to her were her family, her church, and her many friends. She was a loving and devoted mother and enjoyed life to the fullest.

She married Robert Durham in 1941; he and an infant son preceded her in death. She married Raymond Barchenger in 1974 and he preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her parents; sister, Ramona Randall; brother, Vernon Shanahan; son-in-law, Dennis Parsons; and cousin, Richard Randall.

Survivors include her daughter, Bonnie Parsons of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina; sister, Marie Hanson of Minneapolis; and several nieces and their families.