Harriet Marie Hay

MADISON -- Harriet (Johnny) Hay, age 89, died on Thursday, July 2, 2009. She was born of Julius William and Ellen Johnson in Madison, Minnesota, but grew up in Montevideo, MN. She graduated from the St. Barnabas School of Nursing in Minneapolis in 1940. On Sept. 7, 1942, she married Wayne Hay, with a love that endured for the rest of their lives. They lived in Minneapolis until 1946, when they moved to Madison, WI. She dedicated her life to her family, creating a loving, nurturing environment, filled with laughter, love, freedom, and always--cookies. She delighted in the challenges of being teacher, advisor, nurse, referee, cook, laundress, and exceptional housekeeper for her family. She was well loved by friends and neighbors, and especially enjoyed the relationships she had with members of a Sewing Club, a Bridge Club, and a Book Club. The very special friendship she shared with members of the Sewing Club, which began in the 1940s, endured throughout the lives of all. She leaves a legacy of love, laughter and a little light lunacy. (She did raise 7 children, after all!) She was a member of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, which she attended until Alzheimer's claimed her and she moved into Oakwood Nursing Home in 2004. Johnny is survived by her children, Mike (Connie) Hay, Becky (Felipe) Garcea, Bob (Jane) Hay, Jacque (Gerry) Wichlacz, Ron (Carol) Hay, Cath (Al) Bassett, son-in-law, Nic (Bobbi) Schaefer; 12 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, sister-in law Helen (Ric) Connell, numerous nieces and nephews, and dearest friend Robert Featherstone and his three daughters. She was preceded in death by her husband Wayne Hay, daughter Bobbi Schaefer, and son John Hay. A funeral Mass and memorial celebration will be held at OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH in Madison, on Monday, July 6, 2009, at 1:00 p.m. Visitation will be at the church one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that Johnny be honored by donations to Alzheimer's Disease Research or the American Red Cross. The family would like to thank the staff at Hebron Oaks Nursing Home of Oakwood West for their loving care over the past five years.