Madonna Jean Hennette
JANUARY 9, 1928 – MARCH 24, 2022
Madonna was born in Terre Haute, Indiana on January 9, 1928. She was the youngest of four children born to the late Mary Gurchiek Burns and John David Burns. She was a 1945 graduate of Garfield High School in Terre Haute.
She was the first in her family to attend college and become a 1948 graduate of Indiana State Teacher's College, now known as Indiana State University, where she earned a B.A. degree in Education. She was invited to join the Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society in Education. She later pursued graduate courses in Life Sciences and was employed in the field of Medical Technology.
Upon her retirement from that profession, she pursued a career as the Office Manager for the dental office of William Aitken, D.D.S. in Terre Haute until relocating to Tavares, Florida.
Madonna was a lifelong member of the Indiana State Alumni Association, was a widow member of the Elks Lodge #86 in Terre Haute. She maintained an active lifestyle by walking, riding her bicycle, playing golf and bowling. She also made it her life mission to try to keep all her family as close as possible and in touch with each other despite the large distances between them.
Madonna was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John; her two sisters, Leona Margaret Burns and Marie Eileen Seprodi; and her brother, John D. Burns, Jr.
She is survived by her three children, Dr. John D. Hennette (Cindy) in Greencastle, Indiana, Nancy Hennette Ellis of Orange Park, Florida and Richard Hennette (Dee) of Wichita, Kansas; five grandchildren, Kelsey Hennette Hill (Beau) of Brownsburg, Indiana and Jon Thornton Hennette in Whitestown, Indiana; Jonathon Ellis (Michelle) in Jacksonville, Florida; Elliott Hennette and Jay Hennette of Wichita, Kansas; and four great-grandchildren whom she had the pleasure of spending time with, twins Hadley and Huxley Hill; Brandon and Nathan Ellis. She also kept in special contact with her nieces Donna Seprodi Burt (Ed) and Diane Seprodi Robinson (Michael); plus several other nieces and nephews, and good friends that brought joy and smiles to her life.
Madonna was formerly a longtime member of St. Mary's Village Church in St. Mary-of-the-Woods in West Terre Haute, Indiana and was an active member of the St. Mary of the Lakes in Eustis, Florida until her final move to Orange Park. She enjoyed being a reader during the Masses in all of her parishes and was also a retired member of the Ministry of the Sick and of the Bereavement Committee at St. Mary of the Lakes.
A service will be held June 18 at 2:30 PM in Roselawn Memorial Park Cemetery in North Terre Haute where her cremated remains will be interred with her husband and members of the Burns family.
