Olive Elizabeth (Passe) Kenitz, 93, Wabasha

Olive Elizabeth (Passe) Kenitz, age 93, died Thursday, February 21, 2019 at St. Elizabeth’s Health Care Center in Wabasha. She was blessed to have lived all 93 years of her life in Wabasha. She was born May 31, 1925 to John B. and Margaret (Lee) Passe. She was a graduate of St. Felix High School in Wabasha. In her early years she worked for Wabasha County Social Services and in the office of the Wabasha County Clerk of Court. It was there she met Nick Kenitz, the love of her life. They were united in marriage April 18, 1949 at St. Felix Catholic Church and they happily shared their life together for 51 years until Nick’s passing in 2000.
Olive was a homemaker most of her life raising their five children. Later she worked as a secretary for Farm Bureau. Music was a big part of Olive’s life. For many years she played piano for the St. Elizabeth’s Health Care Center residents as well as providing the music for the Saturday masses there for over 20 years. She was fortunate in her life to be able to travel to many countries abroad, some of which included her beloved Ireland, Germany, France, and England as well as taking trips with her daughter, Kay, to Hawaii and Alaska.
She was a member of St. Felix Catholic Church in Wabasha and its Council of Catholic Women. She was also a member of the Wabasha American Legion Post #50 Auxiliary. She also served several years on the Wabasha City Library Board.
Olive will be remembered for her warm smile, her caring heart, her love of the color pink and her Irish heritage. She will be forever loved and missed by her four children, their spouses, her grandchildren and the Kasper family, especially June. The Kenitz family would like to especially thank all the staff as well as the hospice staff who took such great care of Olive over these past four years at St. Elizabeth’s.
She is survived by sons and daughters-in-law, Gary Kenitz, Rochester, MN, David and Mary Kenitz, Winona, MN, Mark and Deb Kenitz, Rochester, MN; daughter, Mary Kay Kenitz, Rochester, MN; grandsons, Matthew (Danielle) Kenitz and Michael Kenitz (Marcie Hill); step-grandsons, Ben (Mandi) Thomas and Jon (Ann) Thomas; great-grandsons, Evan and Trevor Kenitz; five step-great-grandchildren; and the Raymond and Marian Kasper family. She was preceded in death by her husband, Nick, infant son, Peter, sister, Marian Kasper, and brother, Jack Passe.
A funeral Mass was celebrated on Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at 11:30am at St. Felix Catholic Church in Wabasha with the Reverend Father Gregory Parrott and Deacon John Hust officiating. Interment followed at St. Felix Cemetery. Family and friends called at the church on Wednesday from 9:30am until the time of service. Memorials are preferred to St. Elizabeth’s Health Care Center, 626 Shields Ave. or St. Felix Catholic School, 130 3rd St., both in Wabasha, MN 55981. The Abbott Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. www.abbottfh.com