Adele Louise (Ramsey) McDonnell

Adele Louise (Ramsey) McDonnell passed away Sunday, November 5, 2023, at Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin, MN.

She was born February 25th, 1932, in International Falls, MN to Everett and Bernice (Belcher) Ramsey, where she graduated from Falls High School in 1950, and graduated as a registered nurse from the College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, MN, in 1953.

She married Thomas Patrick McDonnell September 21, 1953, in Duluth. She worked in the nursing field while raising a family and was employed at several hospitals throughout her career, including St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth, Minnesota Valley Memorial Hospital in LeSueur, St. Peter Community Hospital, St. Peter, and North Memorial in Robbinsdale, retiring in 1986.

During their lives together Adele and Pat raised seven children, living in Duluth, Wertheim, Germany, Fox Lake, WI, Belvidere Il, LeSueur, MN, Aitkin, Apache Junction, AZ, and International Falls.  For 25 years, she and her husband, Pat, owned and operated Morningside Resort on Cedar Lake in Aitkin.  In 1996 Adele and Pat retired from the resort to live on Rainy Lake near International Falls while enjoying winters in Apache Junction.  They returned to Aitkin during the warmer seasons to be closer to family beginning in 2013. 

Adele grew up in a household full of art as her mother was a well-known local artist.  Much of Adele’s art knowledge was absorbed from these surroundings.  This became a retirement occupation as Adele worked in a variety of mediums, including quilting, photography, painting, pottery, ceramics, and both stained and fused glass.  Adele taught classes and coached many fellow artists along the way.  She was involved in the Northland Art Society in International Falls where she was a lifetime member and introduced new techniques in ceramics, pottery, painting, and kiln formed glass.

In the Fall of 2015, Adele had the honor of being featured in a solo exhibit at the Jacques Art Center in Aitkin.  She has displayed all mediums of her art individually and as part of a number of group exhibits, earning awards for her work in both Minnesota and Arizona.  She was instrumental in the formation of an art club though the Jaques in Aitkin and she was active in this for several years.

Adele and Pat enjoyed travel, spending time tent camping or RVing with their children, then later as a couple, and with their adult children.  Adele and Pat shared an interest in genealogy, an endeavor that brought them to all corners of the US, Ireland, and Scotland, visiting libraries and parishes gathering information about their heritage.

Adele was preceded in death by her husband; parents; brother, Jack Ramsey; sister-in-law, Anne Ramsey; and son in law, Steven Nelson.  She is survived by her brother Everett Ramsey, Jr. of International Falls; her children, Tom (Rosemary) McDonnell, Mary McDonnell, Liz (Jeff) Boyer, all of Aitkin, Dave (Cheryl) McDonnell of Chaska, Claire Nelson of Lake Crystal, Bob (Brenda) McDonnell of Crestview, Florida, and Kate (Steve) Cronen of Mesa, AZ, 20 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Sunday, November 12 from 5-7 PM with a time of sharing at 6:30 PM and Rosary service at 7 PM in Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home, Aitkin.  Visitation will continue Monday, November 13 from 10 AM until the 11 AM Mass of Christian Burial in St. James Catholic Church, Aitkin with Father Keith Bertram officiating.  Burial will be in St. Thomas Catholic Cemetery, Aitkin.  To sign the guestbook online, go to: www.srtfuneral.com.  Arrangements are with Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Aitkin.

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