EVA LUCILLE MCMAHON BARSANTI obituary

Eva Lucille McMahon Barsanti, 88, died Monday, May 7, 2007 at the Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes.

Her prayer vigil and rosary service will be 7 p.m. M o n d a y , May 14 at the St. Jude C a t h o l i c Church with her Funeral Mass 11 a . M . T u e s d a y , May 15 also at the St. J u d e C a t h o l i c Church with Father Robert D. Grosch officiating. Burial will follow at the Calvary Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the St. Jude Parish Center immediately after the services at the graveside. Eva was born Feb. 23, 1919 on a farm in Eastern North Dakota. She lived with her Grandmother and Aunt in Larimore, North Dakota to attend first grade. Her family immigrated to a farm in Southern Alberta, Canada in March of 1928 where she attended rural school through the 10th grade. She graduated from St. Patrick's High School in Lethbridge Alberta in 1936. She stayed home a year, because her father thought that seventeen years old was too young for college. Eva attended Northern Montana College and graduated with her two year diploma in 1939 in Elementary Education. She obtained her Bachelors degree in elementary education in 1971. Eva taught in rural schools in Hill and Pondera counties from 1939 to 1941. In June of 1941 Eva married Marrio Barsanti of Havre she met him while attending college. In 1950 they purchased a home at 1118 5th St. where she resided until her death. Eva taught third-grade at St. Jude's School for almost twenty two years. She retired from teaching in 1977 and remained active in the school working as an aide and substituting often. Her retirement allowed Eva to do things that she hadn't had any time for. Eva was a very active member of the St. Jude Parish and served on the parish council, liturgy committee, school board as well as being a lector, bible study leader, minister and lay leader of prayer. Eva enjoyed her ceramics. Her children's homes are full of all of the ceramics that she had painted. She also crocheted Afghans well over 30 of them and made sure each member of her family had one. She also made quilts. She participated in the community education classes of which she greatly enjoyed. Eva took years of classes in water color, oils and pastel painting. Eva was especially fond of flower arranging and took many awards at the Hill County Fair. After her husband's death she took over the task of raising flowers in their green house for her yard and those of her family and friends. Eva was a Girl Scout Leader for eight years and also a three plus gallon Red Cross Blood Donor. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America and was a leader for seventeen years of St. Ann's Circle of Parish Council of Catholic Women. She was a member of the Bear Paw Retired Teachers for many years. An avid reader much of her life preferring books over television. She loved to travel and took two month long trips to Europe and an Alaskan Cruise. She was preceded in death by her husband Marrio in 1983, her parents, and one brother. Eva is survived by her sons, Leo (Jeanne) Barsanti of Billings, Ed (Paula Ranes) Barsanti of Havre; a daughter, Linda (Don) Rutherfort of Longmont, Colo.; four grandchildren and one great grandchild. Memorial contributions in Eva's honor may be made to the St. Jude School 624 4th Street Havre, MT 59501. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland and Bonine Funeral Home.