Willene M. Monda

Willene M. Monda, one of the late Otto William and Ida (McMillan) Anderson’s three children, was born June 7, 1918, at Richland, Missouri. Willene grew up in Richland where she graduated from high school in 1936. During WWII, Willene worked at Douglas Aircraft in El Segundo, California, and then at the Sunflower Ordnance Works, a defense plant in Topeka, Kansas. On September 25, 1942, while volunteering at the U.S.O. in Waynesville, Willene met the love of her life, Paul Joseph Monda. She married Paul on September 25, 1947, five years to the day after they met. They were wed at the St. Thomas Catholic Church in Thomas, West Virginia. Willene and Paul shared nearly 52 years of marriage and five wonderful children together. Willene attended Colorado College in Greeley, Colorado and continued her degree course work by taking classes through several Missouri colleges and universities. Her first teaching job was in a one room schoolhouse at Turkey Ridge. She later taught for the Waynesville R-VI School District and for the last years of her career as a Special Education Teacher for the Missouri State School at Fort Leonard Wood. She was a member of Missouri State Teacher Association and other teacher’s organizations. Willene was a long-time member of the St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church were she served on the Altar Society for many years. As her children were growing up, Willene was involved with the Girl Scouts, 4-H Club, and was a Den Mother for the Cub Scouts. She loved birdwatching, gardening, and growing flowers. She could paint, carve, and do all sorts of crafts, and always had a project for the grandchildren. Willene departed this life the morning of April 21, 1999, at St. John’s Regional Health Center in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of 80 years, 10 months and 14 days. She leaves to cherish her memory, her husband: Paul of the home; three sons: Paul Monda, Jr. and his wife, Helen of Duncanville, Texas, John Monda and his wife, Aimee of St. Louis and Michael Monda of Macon; two daughters: Jeanne Strohm and her husband, Merle of Springfield and Joanne Tyra and her husband, Tom of El Paso, Texas; one sister: Freda LaCaze of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; one brother: Drue Anderson of Owensville; nine grandchildren: Paul Joseph Monda III and Valerie Monda, Eric, Mark and Julie Monda, Jessica and Byron Strohm and Jacquelyn and Thomas Tyra; several nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends. Rosary Services were held at 7:00 p.m. Friday, April 23, 1999, at Waynesville Memorial Chapel with Father Brendan Lawless officiating. Funeral mass was held at 10:00 am Saturday, April 24, at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church with Father Lawless officiating. Jack Gregory, Diana Geier and Agathe Douwner were servers. The escorts were Frank Bogad, Ben Campeau, Chuck Kremer, Gil Rosipal and David Voudrie. Her sons and grandson, Paul J. Monda, Jr., John W. Monda, Michael E. Monda, Paul J. Monda, III, Eric W. Monda, Mark J. Monda, Byron R. Strohm and Thomas E. Tyra, were honorary escorts. Burial was in the Resurrection Cemetery, St. Robert. Services were under the direction of Waynesville Memorial Chapels. Memorial contributions may be given to the Central Missouri Kidney Association.

Willene M. Monda

June 7, 1918 - April 21, 1999