Elaine I. Zeman, age 85 of Duluth passed away Sept. 18, 2008 at St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth. She was surrounded by her loving family.
Mass of Christian burial was held Monday, Sept 22 at 11 a.m. at Cathedral of our Lady of the Rosary. Visitation was Sunday Sept. 21 at Bell Brothers Jarvi Dowd Chapel from 5 to 7 p.m. with vigil prayers at 7 p.m. Final Resting place is Forest Hill Cemetery in Duluth.
Elaine was born April 14, 1923 in Grand Forks, N.D. the daughter of Franklin J. and Marie F. (Chale) Huard. She was baptized May 3, 1923 at St. Jude's Catholic Church in Thompson, N.D. by Rev. Patrick Reddin. Elaine was confirmed at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Grand Forks, N.D. On June 5, 1943 Elaine I. Huard was united in marriage to Marvin W. Zeman at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Norwich, Conn. by Rev. Alexander Mitchell. Elaine and Marv were blessed with 11 children in their 55 years of marriage.
Elaine was many things: she was a stay at home mom, lovingly raising her children.
This was what she saw as her greatest achievement. She was proud of her children and the lives they have created, just wanting them to be happy.
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She enjoyed watching them enter into adulthood, many giving her and Marv grandchildren, and then later great grandchildren. She particularly enjoyed when babies were around. She loved watching her children gathered together for holidays and summers at the cabins.
She frequently said it was a gift to her that they (her children) loved each other so much and spent time together. She worked in several jobs including for the FBI during the war, and JC Penny's after the children were older.
She was most proud of her time at Woodland Hills as an education assistant, knowing that she was helping children.
She loved to travel.
She always enjoyed road trips with first Marv and the children, then with just Marv after they retired. She also traveled to see her adult children. Elaine was a strong believer in giving back to her community. She volunteered at St. Mary's Hospital for many years, offering a friendly face and a smile to staff, patients, and visitors alike. She also sat at the St. Mary's Star of the Sea Chapel weekly, honoring the chapel and its visitors. She enjoyed numerous hobbies, including: quilting, needlepoint, cards, gardening, baking, cooking for family and computer games. She is loved by many and will be missed.
Elaine is preceded in death by her husband Marv, infant daughter Linda Lee, mother and father Franklin and Marie Huard, and siblings Effie (Carroll) Kane, Elmer Huard, Raymond (Thelma) Huard, Leo (Beatrice) Huard and James Huard.
Elaine is survived by her loving family: Children and spouses James Zeman of Oriental, N.C., Nancy (Jerry) Bergman of Gilbert, Minn., Terry Hall of Juno Beach, Fla., Michael (Shelly) Zeman of Gary New Duluth, Peggy (Robert) Berg of Duluth, Mary Beth (Charles) Workman of Durham, NC, Judith Zeman of Boca Raton, FL, Thomas (Kathleen) Zeman of Duluth, Denise (David) Homstad of Duluth, Richard Zeman of Ramsey, Minn. Grandchildren: Jason (Erica) Zeman, Jessica (Peter) Jacobs, Scott (Verna) Anderson, Christine Anderson, Colin Zeman, Lindsay Zeman, Sam Wick-Zeman, Heather Jordan, Aaron Berg, Kevin Berg, Elizabeth Barbo, Jeremy (Emily) Zeman, Isabel Zeman, Amanda Zeman, Allison Homstad, Patrick Homstad, Brianna Zeman, Melissa Zeman. Great-grandchildren Olivia, Clarrisa and Holden Zeman, Ella Jacobs, Matthew, Curtis and Erik Anderson, Addison Barbo, Anissa, Nicole and Jacob Zeman. Nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.
Casket bearers were, Jason Zeman, Scott Anderson, Aaron Berg, Lindsay Zeman, Jeremy Zeman, Patrick Homstad, Elizabeth Barbo and Christine Anderson.
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The Zeman family would also like to give a special thank you to Dr. Mark Goeliner, Dr. Susan Kamper and the staff at the Benedictine Health Center for Elaine's wonderful care. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to Holy Rosary School.
