Jeanette Claire Zelenak

Jeanette Claire Zelenak age 95 died peacefully at St. Therese Nursing Home in Woodbury, MN surrounded by family on November 2, 2025. She was the backbone of the Zelenak family, a devoted grandmother and cherished her role as an Aunt to many nieces and nephews throughout her life.

Jeanette was born on March 2, 1930 in Bellchester, MN to Frank and Margaret (Allie) Strauss, the youngest of four children. She attended the Villa Maria Academy for Girls in Frontenac, MN which was the foundation for her strong Catholic faith. She later attended St. Cloud Teacher’s College and spent decades sharing her talents and wisdom as an elementary teacher until her retirement from the North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District.

On November 10, 1962 Jeanette married Richard Zelenak. Together they raised five very active children on St. Paul’s Eastside; Michael, Brian, Philip, Bradley and Jennifer and yet made room for more in their home and at their dinner table. She loved gardening and cooking, hosting events for family and friends, being with her sister Rita and spending time at the family cabin on Lake Pokegama in Pine City, MN. In retirement she loved to travel and spend even more time at the cabin and became very involved in the Lake Association, becoming co-chair of the Education Committee and eventually moving to Woodbury, MN.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Richard G. Zelenak, grandson Jacob Zelenak and siblings Rita Arendt, Gary Strauss and Clem Strauss.

Survived by children Michael (Maureen) Zelenak, Brian Zelenak, Philip Zelenak, Bradley (Susan) Zelenak and Jennifer (Dean) Zelenak-Tydrich and grandchildren Van (Claire), Ella, Owen, Aaron (Moe), Will, Luke (Gigi), Anna, Greta, Wyatt and Anya; many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the staff of St. Therese of Woodbury and St. Croix Hospice for the wonderful care Jeanette received.

A visitation will be held at Saint Ambrose of Woodbury Catholic Church, located at 4125 Woodbury Drive, Woodbury, Minnesota, 55129, on November 13, 2025, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am.

The Mass of Christian Burial will take place at Saint Ambrose Catholic Community, 4125 Woodbury Dr #9627, Woodbury, MN, 55129, on November 13, 2025, starting at 11:00 am.

A luncheon will immediately follow the Mass at the church at 12:00 pm.