Geneva Essner

NEW HAMBURG, Mo. -- Geneva A. Essner, 78, of New Hamburg passed away Friday, May 1, 2015, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

She was born April 15, 1937, in Cape Girardeau, to August and Minnie Menz Seyer. She and Paul W. Essner were married April 19, 1958.

Geneva worked in the cleaning supply department at Saint Francis until she retired. She was a member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church and St. Ann Sodality.

Geneva also was a KC-ette of Oran Council 4311, a 4-H leader, Sunday school teacher, perpetual adoration of Saint Francis Chapel and Cursillo Movement.

Survivors include her husband; five sons, Gerard (Carolyn) Essner of New Hamburg, Ronnie (Laura) Essner of Benton, Missouri, Curtis (Cheryl) Essner of Benton, Jeffrey (Gina) Essner of Benton and Jamie (Emily) Essner of Commerce, Missouri; three daughters, Theresa Essner of New Hamburg, Sheila (Ricky) Harper of New Hamburg and Melissa (Justin) Sullivan of Chaffee, Missouri; two brothers, Marvin (Karen) Seyer and Don (Becky) Seyer, both of New Hamburg; and a sister, Marie Elfrink of Chaffee.

Also 19 grandchildren, Ashley (Kerry Wayne Lasters) Essner, Zachary (Jacklyn Ruopp) Essner, Abby Essner, Ryan Essner, Lance Essner, Ross Essner, Seth Essner, Matthew Harper, Whitney Harper, Christian Essner, Camden Essner, Carson Essner, Ashley Sullivan, Austin Sullivan, Nathanael Sullivan, Nicholas Sullivan, Jenna Essner, Gwendolyn Essner and Bennett Essner; and two great-stepgrandchildren, Braelyn Sullivan and Cayden Warren.

She also was preceded in death by three brothers, Ralph, David and James Seyer, and a granddaughter, Kelsi Essner.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. today at St. Lawrence Church, with the Rev. Michael Casteel as celebrant. Burial will be in St. Lawrence Cemetery.

Online condolences may be made at amick-burnettfuneralchapels.com.