Dena J Merithew

May 8, 1944 - November 18, 2020

Dena Merithew, 29 + + +, of Grand Island passed away on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 at CHI-Health St. Francis. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at All Faiths Funeral Home on Monday, November 23, 2020. Rosary will begin at 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday at St. Mary’s Cathedral, celebrant will be Fr. Jim Golka. Burial will follow at Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. CDC guidelines and social distancing will be followed. To protect those most vulnerable, masks are required and livestreaming will be available on All Faiths Funeral Home Facebook page. All Faiths Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements. Dena was born on May 8, 1944 in Sterling Colorado to George W. and Nona A. (Hradecky) Harms. She attended grade school in Fleming Colorado until her family moved to Grand Island in 1956, where she attended St. Mary’s Grade School, and graduated from Central Catholic High School. Dena continued her education and attended Mt. Marty College in Yankton, SD. In 1963 she married Dean A. Nesiba, they were blessed with four sons before his death in 1968. On July 3, 1970, Dena married Jerry Merithew. With this union Dena gained four daughters and they were blessed with two more daughters. The family made their home in Grand Island and Chapman. Dena was employed as a legal secretary and real estate receptionist when her children were young. Later on, she began full time employment as an accounting clerk for the State of Nebraska at NLETC in Grand Island. She retired after 25 years of service in May 2009. Dena and Jerry were blessed with six more months together before his passing in November 2009. Dena’s family and faith were her life. Dena was a member of St. Mary’s Cathedral since 1956. She was active in St. Mary’s Quilters, volunteering at Mary’s Closet, and a part of the Cathedral Ladies. Dena cherished friendship lunches, working with her flowers and vegetable gardens, scrapbooking, traveling to visit children and their families, cooking and baking her famous banana bread. Dena is survived by her four sons and daughters-in-law, Allen (Bethene) Merithew of Chapman, George (Traci) Merithew of Omaha, Lukas ( Keyne) Merithew of Goodlettsville, TN, Benjamin Merithew of Independence, MO; five daughters and sons-in-law, Gail (Eric) Hampton of Grand Island, Nona (Keith) Schroll of Wood River, Sharon Albertson of Lincoln, Jerrie Morrow of Lincoln and Lynn (Dennis) Terry of Dannebrog; brothers, David (Tong) Harms of Lincoln, Dan (Helene) Harms of Grand Island; sisters and brothers-in-law, Carol (Frank) Boysen of Holdrege, Jodi Perrelet of Grand Island and Christine (Lonnie) Wanek of Grand Island; sisters-in-law, Valeria (Eldon) Gustafson of Phillips, Elaine (Steve) Wilson of Commerce City, CO, Merril Lynn Kreiner of Grand Island, Mary Ellen Merithew of Grand Island and Mel Harms of Sterling, CO; brothers-in-law, Dallas (Kathy) Nesiba of Rockville and Bill (Carol) Nesiba of Grand Island; 22 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Dean A. Nesiba and Gerald “Jerry” Merithew; daughter, Lorri Soden; son- in -law, Quinton Albertson; brother-in-law, Ted Merithew, sister-in-law Alyce Stalnaker, brother Gary Harms and sister, Gail Winfrey. Memorials are designated to St. Mary’s Cathedral or Central Catholic High School.