BRODHEAD - Kennetha Edwards, age 86, of Brodhead, passed away on Saturday, April 4, 2009, at Woods Crossing Nursing Home, Brodhead. She was born on September 18, 1922 in Chicago, IL, the daughter of Albert and Kennetha (Palmer) Opel. She married Donald J. Edwards on October 16, 1942 in Chicago. He passed away on July 24, 2006.
Kennetha attended Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL. She had won numerous music awards for her singing in the Chicago area. Kennetha also had been a music teacher in Rock County schools for 12 years, and had been a former choir director for Zion Lutheran Church, Janesville and the Orfordville Methodist Church. She was a secretary for attorney Joe Stencil for many years, was a member of the National Secretaries Assoc., serving as the chapter president for two terms, and a member of the United Methodist Church, Brodhead. Kennetha owned and operated Sunflare Floral and Garden Center of Brodhead from 1973 until 1994. She also was the former Mayor of Brodhead and served as an alderperson.
Survivors include her daughter, Judie Edwards, Indianapolis, IN; two sons, Thomas (Elizabeth) Edwards, Spooner, WI, David Edwards, Baraboo, WI; former AFS student, Giuliani (Romagnoli) Caruana, Rome, Italy; four granddaughters, Katheryn Carter, Margaret Edwards, Sara Beach, Suzanne Edwards, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two brothers, Harry and Albert Opel, two sisters, Ella Mae Nix, and Jessie Tatter.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 9, 2009, at the United Methodist Church, Brodhead, with Rev. Steve Groves officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Brodhead. Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., Wednesday, April 8, 2009, at the D.L. NEWCOMER FUNERAL HOME, BRODHEAD, WI. Memorials can be made to the United Methodist Church, Brodhead.
Kennetha attended Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL. She had won numerous music awards for her singing in the Chicago area. Kennetha also had been a music teacher in Rock County schools for 12 years, and had been a former choir director for Zion Lutheran Church, Janesville and the Orfordville Methodist Church. She was a secretary for attorney Joe Stencil for many years, was a member of the National Secretaries Assoc., serving as the chapter president for two terms, and a member of the United Methodist Church, Brodhead. Kennetha owned and operated Sunflare Floral and Garden Center of Brodhead from 1973 until 1994. She also was the former Mayor of Brodhead and served as an alderperson.
Survivors include her daughter, Judie Edwards, Indianapolis, IN; two sons, Thomas (Elizabeth) Edwards, Spooner, WI, David Edwards, Baraboo, WI; former AFS student, Giuliani (Romagnoli) Caruana, Rome, Italy; four granddaughters, Katheryn Carter, Margaret Edwards, Sara Beach, Suzanne Edwards, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two brothers, Harry and Albert Opel, two sisters, Ella Mae Nix, and Jessie Tatter.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 9, 2009, at the United Methodist Church, Brodhead, with Rev. Steve Groves officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Brodhead. Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., Wednesday, April 8, 2009, at the D.L. NEWCOMER FUNERAL HOME, BRODHEAD, WI. Memorials can be made to the United Methodist Church, Brodhead.