Eileen E. Sirny

She was born in Plummer, Minnesota in 1917, to Frank and Amanda Haparanta.

Eileen worked at the First Street Department Store and at Sears Robuck Company until her retirement in 1979.

Gardening was Eileen's passion. Her love of growing things was evident in the beautiful flowers in her yard and the large vegetable garden.

She married Louis (Tex) Sirny in 1965, and together they continued their love of gardening, always sharing their bounty with family and friends.

Eileen was a member of French River Lutheran Church, The Homesteaders and Nu Agers. She was a lifetime member of the Normanna Garden Club and Duluth Garden Flower Society, and won many awards at the flower shows.

Eileen enjoyed being with family and friends. The coffee pot was always on for anyone who stopped in.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Lillian and brother, Arne; son Gary, and first husband, Albert Sironen.

Eileen is survived by her husband, Louis; her daughter, Lone (David) Cooke and son, Larry (Sandy) Sironen, both of Duluth; her daughter-in-law, Mary Ann "Skipper" Sironen; her grandchildren, LuAnn (Roger) Thiry, Sheri (Tom) Gray, David (Brenda) Cooke, Lisa (Kevin) Pettis, Todd Sironen, Linzy (Steve) Eck and Lonny Sironen, her great- grandchildren, Aaron (Rachel) Gray, Haeli Pettis, and Elijah Eck, great- great- grandchildren, Chloe and Caleb Gray; sister, Faye (Jack) Frost; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation: 1 p.m. until the 2 p.m. Funeral Service Friday, May 10, 2013, in French River Lutheran Church, 5310 Ryan Road. Inurnment will take place in Normanna Cemetery at a later date. Memorials may be directed to French River Lutheran Church. To leave a memory of Eileen or words of support, please visit www.bellbrothersjarvidowd.com